That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.
Paul ValeryRead
Politics is the art of preventing people from busying themselves with what is their own business.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Politics can distract individuals from their personal responsibilities and interests.
This quote by Paul Valery suggests that politics often serves as a diversion for people, keeping them occupied with matters that may not directly pertain to their own lives. Instead of focusing on personal development and the issues that genuinely affect them, individuals are drawn into political debates and activities that may not serve their best interests.
Themes
PoliticsDistractionResponsibilitySocietyEngagement
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on local governance, one might quote this to highlight the importance of personal involvement in community issues.
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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