Paul Valery
Paul Valery
Ambroise-Paul-Toussaint-Jules Valérywas a French poet, essayist, and philosopher. In addition to his poetry and fiction, his interests included aphorisms on art, history, letters, music, and current events. Valéry was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 12 different years...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth30 October 1871
CountryFrance
dream struggle soul
My soul is nothing now but the dream dreamt by matter struggling with itself!
light tree growing
Growing nations should remember that, in nature, no tree, though placed in the best conditions of light, soil, and plot, can continue to grow and spread indefinitely.
order two police
Order always weighs on the individual. Disorder makes him wish for the police or for death. These are two extreme circumstances in which human nature is not at ease.
looks lions revolution
In most cases, when the lion, weary of obeying its master, has torn and devoured him, its nerves are pacified and it looks round for another master before whom to grovel.
art eye men
Collect all the facts that can be collected about the life of Racine and you will never learn from them the art of his verse. All criticism is dominated by the outworn theory that the man is the cause of the work as in the eyes of the law the criminal is the cause of the crime. Far rather are they both the effects.
way bears degas
What Degas called 'a way of seeing' must consequently bear a wide enough interpretation to include way of being, power, knowledge, and will.
mean people
My poems mean what people take them to mean.
talking expression apologizing
We must always apologize for talking painting.
oracles folly built
The folly of mistaking oneself for an oracle is built right into us.
ignorance men precious-gifts
Great things are accomplished by those who do not feel the impotence of man. This is a precious gift.
impossible said wells
In poetry everything which must be said is almost impossible to say well.
motive settlement treaties
The only treaties that ought to count are those which would effect a settlement between ulterior motives.
dance journey hiking
Poetry is to prose as dancing is to walking.
mind teeth needs
To enter into your own mind you need to be armed to the teeth.