That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.
Paul ValeryRead
Science is feasible when the variables are few and can be enumerated; when their combinations are distinct and clear. We are tending toward the condition of science and aspiring to do it. The artist works out his own formulas; the interest of science lies in the art of making science.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the interplay between science and art, highlighting that both require clarity and creativity in their processes.
In this quote, Paul Valery reflects on the relationship between science and art. He suggests that science is grounded in simplicity and clarity, where variables are easily defined and manipulated. At the same time, he asserts that the practice of science is an art form in itself, as it involves creative thinking and the development of formulas that express complex ideas. By appreciating both the structured nature of science and the imaginative spirit of art, Valery promotes a holistic understanding of knowledge creation.
Themes
ScienceArtCreativityFormulasVariables
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on the importance of interdisciplinary studies, one might use this quote to highlight how science and art can inform and enhance each other.
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.
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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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