That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.
Paul ValeryRead
Our judgments judge us, and nothing reveals us, exposes our weaknesses, more ingeniously than the attitude of pronouncing upon our fellows.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our judgments of others reflect our own character and weaknesses.
This quote by Paul Valery suggests that when we judge others, it not only reveals our perceptions but also exposes our internal flaws and vulnerabilities. It highlights the irony that our criticisms and evaluations of others are often a mirror, reflecting our own insecurities and character rather than merely offering insights into the people we are judging.
Themes
JudgmentCharacterReflectionWeaknessCriticism
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about social behavior, this quote can illustrate how our views of others may reveal more about ourselves.
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.
Paul ValeryRead
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