That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.
Paul ValeryRead
God made everything out of nothing. But the nothingness shows through.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the idea of creation and the imperfections inherent in existence.
Paul Valery's quote suggests that everything in the universe originated from nothing, yet this 'nothingness' is still evident in what has been created. It speaks to the paradox of existence where the absence of perfection and the presence of flaws illustrate the limitations of creation, highlighting a deep philosophical reflection on the nature of being and existence.
Themes
CreationNothingnessExistencePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the origins of the universe, one might quote Valery to highlight the paradox of existence.
More from Paul Valery
All quotes βOh, 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.
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The history of thought may be summed up in these words: it is absurd by what it seeks and great by what it finds.
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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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It would be impossible to "love" anyone or anything one knew completely. Love is directed towards what lies hidden in its object.
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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.
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