Quote by Paul Valery

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.

The folly of mistaking a paradox for a discovery, a metaphor

Summary

This quote suggests that there is a natural tendency in humans to mistake certain things for others. It points out that people often confuse paradoxes for groundbreaking discoveries, metaphors for concrete evidence, excessive and meaningless words for profound insights, and their own opinions as authoritative and infallible. This inherent inclination can lead to misinterpretations and prevent individuals from recognizing the true value and essence of certain ideas or concepts.

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