The folly of mistaking a paradox for a discovery, a metaphor for a proof, a torrent of verbiage for a spring of capital truths, and oneself for an oracle, is inborn in us.

Quote by Paul Valery

Topics: Paul Valery Quotes

A man who is of sound mind is one who keeps the inner madman under...

A man who is of sound mind is one who keeps the inner madman under...

Our judgments judge us, and nothing reveals us, exposes our weaknesses, more ingeniously than the...

Our judgments judge us, and nothing reveals us, exposes our weaknesses, more ingeniously than the...

A man is infinitely more complicated than his thoughts.

A man is infinitely more complicated than his thoughts.

Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.

Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.

Politics is the art of preventing people from sticking their noses in things that are...

Politics is the art of preventing people from sticking their noses in things that are...

We are wont to condemn self-love; but what we really mean to condemn is contrary...

We are wont to condemn self-love; but what we really mean to condemn is contrary...

Politeness is organized indifference

Politeness is organized indifference

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...

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

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

We are enriched by our reciprocate differences.

We are enriched by our reciprocate differences.

Love is being stupid together.

Love is being stupid together.

The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to...

The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to...

Power without abuse loses its charm

Power without abuse loses its charm

War: a massacre of people who don't know each other for the profit of people...

War: a massacre of people who don't know each other for the profit of people...

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

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

Politeness is organized indifference.

Politeness is organized indifference.

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...

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...

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...

In poetry everything which must be said is almost impossible to say well.

In poetry everything which must be said is almost impossible to say well.