A painter should not paint what he sees but what should be seen. Paul Valery More Quotes by Paul Valery More Quotes From Paul Valery Our most important thoughts are those that contradict our emotions. Paul Valery emotion important An artist never really finishes his work, he merely abandons it. Paul Valery abandon artist art That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false. Paul Valery ironic psychics empowerment It is a sign of the times, and not a very good sign, that these days it is necessary - and not only necessary but urgent - to interest minds in the fate of Mind, that is to say, in their own fate. Paul Valery these-days fate mind That which has been believed by everyone, always and everywhere, has every chance of being false. Paul Valery atheism chance belief I thought it necessary to study history, even to study it deeply, in order to obtain a clear meaning of our immediate time. Paul Valery study order history The only truths which are universal are those gross enough to be thought so. Paul Valery gross truth enough 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 men ideas art Every man expects some miracle — either from his mind or from his body or from someone else or from events. Paul Valery miracle mind men Peace is a virtual, mute, sustained victory of potential powers against probable greeds Paul Valery greed humanity peace God made everything out of nothing. But the nothingness shows through. Paul Valery loneliness spiritual drinking Sometimes I think and other times I am. Paul Valery thoughts-and-thinking sometimes thinking to live means to lack something at every moment Paul Valery moments mean Every beginning is a consequence - every beginning ends some thing. Paul Valery carpe-diem change positive A limited vocabulary, but one with which you can make numerous combinations, is better than thirty thousand words that only hamper the action of the mind. Paul Valery vocabulary mind writing 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. Paul Valery plot light tree The only treaties that ought to count are those which would effect a settlement between ulterior motives. Paul Valery settlement treaties motive The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best. Paul Valery psychology giving ideas Poetry is simply literature reduced to the essence of its active principle. It is purged of idols of every kind, of realistic illusions, of any conceivable equivocation between the language of "truth" and the language of "creation." Paul Valery principles essence idols Every social system is more or less against nature, and at every moment nature is at work to reclaim her rights. Paul Valery society moments rights
