Quotation by

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

Science

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

People naturally confuse surprising or contradictory ideas with real discoveries, and poetic language with solid evidence, often thinking they have found deep truths when they have not. They also tend to overestimate their own wisdom, believing they are experts or prophets when they are not.

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