“The events themselves are demanded as nourishment; if there is no great misfortune in the world this morning, we feel a certain emptiness.”

Original: Les événements eux-mêmes sont demandés comme une nourriture. S'il n'y a point ce matin quelque grand malheur dans le monde, nous sentons un certain vide. — Valéry observes the appetite for dramatic news and catastrophe in modern public life. · Variété (French)

• Events
• Humanity
• Journalism

“Few minds trouble themselves to examine the question before supplying the answer.”

Original: Peu d'esprits s'inquiètent d'examiner la question avant de fournir la réponse. — Valéry stresses the importance of understanding a problem before rushing towards a solution. · Cahiers (French)

• Judgement
• Questions
• Thought

“The wealth of a bad book is reduced to its subject.”

Original: Le sujet d'un ouvrage est à quoi se réduit un mauvais ouvrage. — A cutting distinction between a genuinely realised work and one whose subject is its only attraction. · Autres Rhumbs (French)

• Books
• Craft
• Writing