That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.
Paul ValeryRead
In poetry everything which must be said is almost impossible to say well.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the complex nature of expressing profound thoughts through poetry, highlighting the challenge of articulating feelings and ideas effectively.
Paul Valery's quote suggests that the essence of poetry lies in the struggle to convey deep emotions and thoughts; the nuances and depth of human experience make it difficult to express oneself adequately. He emphasizes the intricate art of crafting words in a way that resonates with others, implying that while poetry aims to encapsulate profound truths, the very act of doing so is fraught with difficulty and often falls short of the intended meaning.
Themes
PoetryExpressionArtChallengeCommunication
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the challenges of artistic expression, one might quote Valery to emphasize the struggles poets face.
More from Paul Valery
All quotes →Oh, hasten not this loving act, Rapture where self and not-self meet: My life has been the awaiting you, Your footfall was my own heart's beat.
Paul ValeryRead
The history of thought may be summed up in these words: it is absurd by what it seeks and great by what it finds.
Paul ValeryRead
The world acquires value only through its extremes and endures only through moderation; extremists make the world great, the moderates give it stability.
Paul ValeryRead
It would be impossible to "love" anyone or anything one knew completely. Love is directed towards what lies hidden in its object.
Paul ValeryRead
You have certainly observed the curious fact that a given word which is perfectly clear when you hear it or use it in everyday language, and which does not give rise to any difficulty when it is engaged in the rapid movement of an ordinary sentence becomes magically embarrassing, introduces a strange resistance, frustrates any effort at definition as soon as you take it out of circulation to examine it separately and look for its meaning after taking away its instantaneous function.
Paul ValeryRead
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My entire soul is a cry, and all my work is a commentary on that cry.
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So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say.
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