Quotes About Paradox

there's no solution, because there's no problem

Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible.

We have such numerous interests in our lives that it is not uncommon, on a single occasion, for the foundations of a happiness that does not yet exist to be laid down alongside the intensification of a grief from which we are still suffering.

The intellectual distinction of a house and its smartness are generally in inverse rather than direct ratio.

One can seldom admire what one loves.

Yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible.

Every man knows that he will die: and nobody believes it. On that paradox stand not only a host of religions but the entity of a sane being.

Every man knows he will die; and nobody believes it. On that paradox stand not only a host of religions but the entity of sane being.

Truth is paradox.

Nothing in creation is ever totally at home in itself. ... It is the deepest intimacy which is nevertheless infused with infinite distance.

When we give vent to the soul, to try what grace is there, corruption comes out; and when we search for corruption, grace appears. So

Matters of any consequence are three-sided, or four-sided, or polygonal; and the trotting round a polygon is severe work for people any way stiff in their opinions. For myself, I am never satisfied that I have handled a subject properly till I have contradicted myself at least three times.

I despise you and I love you, you who are my damnation and salvation both.

The answer to that is complicated." "Give me the short version." "The short version is 'Yes, but.' The slightly longer version is 'No, and.' Which version would you like?

Cannery Row's] inhabitants are, as the man once said, 'whores, pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches,' by which he meant everybody. Had the man looked through another peephole he might have said, 'saints and angels and martyrs and holy men,' and he would have meant the same thing.

And her joy was nearly like sorrow.

For how can one know color in perpetual green, and what good is warmth without cold to give it sweetness?

I do love her, and that's odd because she is everything I detest in anyone else.

Courage and fear were one thing too.

For how can one know colour in perpetual green, and what good is warmth without cold to give it sweetness?

We spend our time searching for security and hate it when we get it.

Its inhabitant are, as the man once said, whores, pimps, gamblers and sons of bitches, by which he meant Everybody. Had the man looked through another peephole he might have said, Saints and angels and martyrs and holy men, and he would have meant the same thing. Quoted by Richard Wagamese in Ragged Company

It is astounding to find that the belly of every black and evil thing is white as snow. And it is saddening to discover how the concealed parts of angels are leprous.

Mi è sempre sembrato strano, disse il Dottore. Le cose che ammiriamo negli uomini, la bontà, la generosità, la franchezza, l'onestà, la saggezza e la sensibilità, sono in noi elementi che portano alla rovina. E le caratteristiche che detestiamo, la furberia, la cupidigia, l'avarizia, la meschinità, l'egoismo, portano al successo. E mentre gli uomini ammirano le prime di queste qualità, amano il risultato delle seconde.