That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.
Paul ValeryRead
Whatever we succeed in doing is a transformation of something we have failed to do. Thus, when we fail, it is only because we have given up.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success comes from transforming our failures into opportunities by persevering.
This quote by Paul Valery emphasizes the idea that success is often achieved through the lessons learned from failure. It suggests that every effort to succeed is a reworking of prior unsuccessful attempts, and that giving up is the true failure, not the process of trying and falling short.
Themes
SuccessFailureTransformationPerseveranceMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a motivational speech to inspire people to continue striving despite setbacks.
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.
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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