Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content.

Quote by Paul Valery

Topics: Paul Valery Quotes

Man's great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake,...

Man's great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake,...

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern...

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern...

The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things...

The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things...

That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.

That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.

A poem is never finished, only abandoned.

A poem is never finished, only abandoned.

God made everything out of nothing, but the nothingness shows through.

God made everything out of nothing, but the nothingness shows through.

Serious-minded people have few ideas. People with ideas are never serious.

Serious-minded people have few ideas. People with ideas are never serious.

History is the science of things which are not repeated.

History is the science of things which are not repeated.

Poe is the only impeccable writer. He was never mistaken.

Poe is the only impeccable writer. He was never mistaken.

Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.

Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.

God created man and, finding him not sufficiently alone, gave him a companion to make...

God created man and, finding him not sufficiently alone, gave him a companion to make...

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

Long years must pass before the truths we have made for ourselves become our very...

Long years must pass before the truths we have made for ourselves become our very...

To write regular verses destroys an infinite number of fine possibilities, but at the same...

To write regular verses destroys an infinite number of fine possibilities, but at the same...

A man's true secrets are more secret to himself than they are to others.

A man's true secrets are more secret to himself than they are to others.

Politeness is organized indifference.

Politeness is organized indifference.

The universe is built on a plan the profound symmetry of which is somehow present...

The universe is built on a plan the profound symmetry of which is somehow present...

Science means simply the aggregate of all the recipes that are always successful. All the...

Science means simply the aggregate of all the recipes that are always successful. All the...

Man's great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake,...

Man's great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake,...

A man is infinitely more complicated than his thoughts.

A man is infinitely more complicated than his thoughts.