Paul Valéry, born on October 30, 1871, in Sète, France, was a revered French poet, essayist, and philosopher. With his profound intellect, innovative approach to language, and introspective style, Valéry established himself as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His poetic vision and philosophical insights continue to inspire readers and scholars alike.
Valéry’s early years were marked by a thirst for knowledge and a passion for literature. Despite his modest background, he pursued an education and developed a deep appreciation for classical literature and philosophy. This intellectual foundation shaped his unique perspective and artistic sensibilities.
Valéry’s poetry is renowned for its complexity, introspection, and meticulous attention to form. His works, such as “La Jeune Parque” and “Cimetière marin,” explored themes of time, memory, and the transient nature of existence. Valéry’s language was rich in symbolism and metaphor, pushing the boundaries of traditional poetic conventions and challenging readers to engage in profound contemplation.
In addition to his poetic endeavors, Valéry was a prolific essayist and philosopher. His essays, collected in volumes such as “Variété” and “Regards sur le monde actuel,” delved into diverse topics, including aesthetics, literature, and the nature of creativity. Valéry’s philosophical musings, often introspective and thought-provoking, offered unique insights into the human mind and the creative process.
Valéry’s intellectual prowess attracted the attention of renowned thinkers and artists of his time. He engaged in stimulating conversations and collaborations with prominent figures, including André Gide, Jean Cocteau, and Claude Debussy. These interactions further enriched Valéry’s ideas and solidified his position as a leading intellectual of the era.
Paul Valéry’s literary contributions continue to resonate with readers and scholars across the globe. His exploration of the complexities of human experience, the power of language, and the depths of thought has left an indelible mark on the literary world. Valéry’s commitment to precision, intellectual rigor, and poetic beauty set him apart as a true visionary.
His influence extends beyond poetry and essays, impacting diverse fields such as philosophy, psychology, and literary theory. Valéry’s work paved the way for future generations of writers and intellectuals, inspiring them to explore the depths of language, thought, and artistic expression.
Paul Valéry’s genius and profound insights have secured his place among the greatest literary minds of the 20th century. His poetry and philosophical reflections continue to captivate readers with their depth, beauty, and intellectual rigor. Valéry’s dedication to intellectual engagement and his unwavering pursuit of truth and beauty remind us of the transformative power of literature and the enduring impact of visionary thinkers. As we celebrate Paul Valéry’s legacy, we are reminded of the profound ways in which art and intellect can shape our understanding of the world and enrich the human experience.
Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.
Paul Valery
That which has been believed by everyone, always and everywhere, has every chance of being false.
Paul Valery
Politeness is organized indifference.
Paul Valery
Politics is the art of preventing people from busying themselves with what is their own business.
Paul Valery
Power without abuse loses its charm.
Paul Valery
Science means simply the aggregate of all the recipes that are always successful. All the rest is literature.
Paul Valery
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[table “117” could not be loaded /]Serious-minded people have few ideas. People with ideas are never serious.
Paul Valery
That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.
Paul Valery
The folly of mistaking a paradox for a discovery, a metaphor for a proof, a torrent of verbiage for a spring of capital truths, and oneself for an oracle, is inborn in us.
Paul Valery
The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best.
Paul Valery
The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be.
Paul Valery
Poe is the only impeccable writer. He was never mistaken.
Paul Valery
To write regular verses destroys an infinite number of fine possibilities, but at the same time it suggests a multitude of distant and totally unexpected thoughts.
Paul Valery
The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.
Paul Valery
War: a massacre of people who don’t know each other for the profit of people who know each other but don’t massacre each other.
Paul Valery
We are enriched by our reciprocate differences.
Paul Valery
The universe is built on a plan the profound symmetry of which is somehow present in the inner structure of our intellect.
Paul Valery
An artist never really finishes his work, he merely abandons it.
Paul Valery
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 Valery
Our judgments judge us, and nothing reveals us, exposes our weaknesses, more ingeniously than the attitude of pronouncing upon our fellows.
Paul Valery
A great man is one who leaves others at a loss after he is gone.
Paul Valery
A man is a poet if difficulties inherent in his art provide him with ideas; he is not a poet if they deprive him of ideas.
Paul Valery
A man is infinitely more complicated than his thoughts.
Paul Valery
A man who is “of sound mind” is one who keeps the inner madman under lock and key.
Paul Valery
A poem is never finished, only abandoned.
Paul Valery
A businessman is a hybrid of a dancer and a calculator.
Paul Valery
At times I think and at times I am.
Paul Valery
In poetry everything which must be said is almost impossible to say well.
Paul Valery
Man’s great misfortune is that he has no organ, no kind of eyelid or brake, to mask or block a thought, or all thought, when he wants to.
Paul Valery
Love is being stupid together.
Paul Valery
A man’s true secrets are more secret to himself than they are to others.
Paul Valery
Long years must pass before the truths we have made for ourselves become our very flesh.
Paul Valery
History is the science of things which are not repeated.
Paul Valery
God made everything out of nothing, but the nothingness shows through.
Paul Valery
God created man and, finding him not sufficiently alone, gave him a companion to make him feel his solitude more keenly.
Paul Valery
Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content.
Paul Valery