Quote #25

A poem is never finished; it's always an accident that puts a stop to it-that is to say, gives it to the public.

More from Paul Valery

  1. A man who is 'of sound mind' is one who keeps the inner madman under lock and key.
  2. Ma main se sent touchee aussi bien qu'elle touche ; reel veut dire cela, et rien de plus.
  3. A good poet is of no more use to his country than a good petanque player.
  4. Modern man no longer works at what cannot be abbreviated.
  5. A businessman is a hybrid of a dancer and a calculator.
  6. On a toujours cherche des explications quand c'etait des representations qu'on pouvait seulement essaye d'inventer.
  7. Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.
  8. The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.

All Paul Valery quotes