Literary notes about satisfactory (AI summary)
The word "satisfactory" in literature frequently functions as a flexible qualifier, one that marks something as meeting a basic standard, yet often carries an undercurrent of ambivalence. For instance, Mark Twain describes his ship as "roomy, comfortable, well-ordered, and satisfactory" [1], suggesting that its condition is acceptable without being exceptional. In other contexts, the term appears in technical or philosophical discussions to indicate that while an explanation or result functions adequately, it may still fall short of complete fulfillment or leave room for doubt [2, 3]. Meanwhile, authors like Nietzsche hint at its limitations by noting outcomes that are far from ideal even if they represent a sincere effort [4]. This diverse usage shows how "satisfactory" can simultaneously affirm a state of acceptability while subtly inviting further scrutiny or aspiration.
- Ours is a nice ship, roomy, comfortable, well-ordered, and satisfactory.
— from Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World by Mark Twain - There is another aspect of the same difficulty which appears to have no satisfactory solution.
— from Timaeus by Plato - Diagram 5 shows, perhaps, the only correct and perfectly satisfactory solution.
— from Amusements in Mathematics by Henry Ernest Dudeney - The result, of course, is far from satisfactory, but it at least represents a very diligent attempt.
— from The Antichrist by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
