Assertion Quote by Marguerite Yourcenar
“When two texts, or two assertions, perhaps two ideas, are in contradiction, be ready to reconcile them rather than cancel one by the other; regard them as two different facets, or two successive stages, of the same reality, a reality convincingly human just because it is too complex.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Contradiction, Marguerite Yourcenar, 1975
Recognize that opposing ideas often reflect different aspects of a single complex truth, and seek integration instead of dismissal.
In simple terms: Opposing ideas can be parts of one truth; integrate them.
Key Takeaway
Embrace complexity, reconcile differences.
Themes
complexity
integration
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
curious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal relationships
- policy making
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
dialectics
holism
cognitive flexibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you identify the underlying unity in conflicting views?
- When is it better to choose one side?
A Different Perspective
Integration may oversimplify distinct truths.
![“Contradictions have always existed in the soul of [individuals]. But it is only when we prefer analysis to silence that they become a constant and insoluble problem. We are not meant to resolve all contradictions but to live with them and rise above them and see them in the light of exterior and…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ee9/thomas-merton-231_analysis_contradictions-have-always-existed-in-th_1336538.jpg)
