Full Idea
It may be doubted whether relations can be adequately characterised by anything except the fact that they relate.
Gist of Idea
The only thing we can say about relations is that they relate
Source
Bertrand Russell (Meinong on Complexes and Assumptions [1904], p.27)
Book Reference
Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.27
A Reaction
We can characterise a rope that ties things together. If I say 'stand to his left', do I assume the existence of one of the relata and the relation, but without the second relata? How about 'you two stand over there, with him on the left'?