Definition:
A statement that appears to contradict itself. Adjective: paradoxical. See also:
Etymology:
From the Greek, "incredible, contrary to opinion or expectation"Examples and Observations:
- "The swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot."
(Henry David Thoreau, Walden) - "If you wish to preserve your secret, wrap it up in frankness."
(Alexander Smith) - "A dog growls when it's angry, and wags its tale when it's pleased. Now I growl when I'm pleased and wag my tale when I'm angry."
(The Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) - "War is peace."
"Freedom is slavery."
"Ignorance is strength."
(George Orwell, 1984) - "There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to."
(Joseph Heller, Catch-22) - "Paradox of Success: the more successful a policy is in warding off some unwanted condition the less necessary it will be thought to maintain it. If a threat is successfully suppressed, people naturally wonder why we should any longer bother with it."
(James Piereson, "On the Paradox of Success," Real Clear Politics, September 11, 2006) - "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
(C.S. Lewis to his godchild, Lucy Barfield, to whom he dedicated The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
Pronunciation: PAR-a-dox
