Full Idea
Propositions are not a good clue to the essence of understanding, because we must already understand things before we formulate propositions about them.
Gist of Idea
Propositions don't provide understanding, because the understanding must come first
Source
report of Martin Heidegger (Being and Time [1927], I.5.31) by Richard Polt - Heidegger: an introduction 3.§31-3
Book Reference
Polt,Richard: 'Heidegger: an introduction' [Routledge 2003], p.68
A Reaction
I like this, because I think the most important aspects of our thought and understanding are entirely non-verbal - even in cases where they seem to be highly specific and verbal. We don't understand ourselves at all!