Paul Valery
Poet
1871-10-30
Quotes by Paul Valery
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The universe is built on a plan the profound symmetry of which is somehow present in the inner structure of our intellect.
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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.
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To write regular verses destroys an infinite number of fine possibilities, but at the same time it suggests a multitude of distant and totally unexpected thoughts.
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War: a massacre of people who don't know each other for the profit of people who know each other but don't massacre each other.
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Our judgments judge us, and nothing reveals us, exposes our weaknesses, more ingeniously than the attitude of pronouncing upon our fellows.
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Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.
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God made everything out of the void, but the void shows through.
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No work of art is ever completed, it is only abandoned.
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An artist never really finishes his work, he merely abandons it.
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A poem is never finished, only abandoned.
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That which has been believed by everyone, always and everywhere, has every chance of being false.
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Nothing beautiful can be summarized.
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The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.
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The world acquires value only through its extremes and endures only through moderation; extremists make the world great, the moderates give it stability.
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God made everything out of nothing. But the nothingness shows through.
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The great virtues of the German people have created more evils than idleness ever did vices.
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Every beginning is a consequence - every beginning ends something.
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History justifies whatever we want it to. It teaches absolutely nothing, for it contains everything and gives examples of everything.
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To deny A is to put A behind bars.
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If disorder is the rule with you, you will be penalized for installing order.
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