Paradox can be a key to much that's important in life.
In the seventeenth century, the French scientist and creative mathematician Blaise Pascal wrote of the greatness and wretchedness of man, of our bigness and smallness in the universe. He pointed out that we are so fragile, and yet so strong. Our minds are profoundly powerful, and yet so limited. He eloquently claimed that there is indeed a God, who is hidden. There is truth, and it's often buried beneath layers of falsehood. He often pointed us to paradoxes that were where he thought the deepest wisdom in life could be found.
Paradox often prevails in life, at least in surface appearances, and sometimes deeper down. For example: You can’t often get what you need unless you first give what you can. There’s rarely a success that doesn’t in some way come from failure, and many a failure results from success. By thinking you’re better than others, you can make yourself worse. Nobility and humility need each other, in balance. Little things can make a big difference. Big things can often make only a small difference. In strength, there can be weakness. In weakness, there can be strength. Playing it safe is rarely safe at all.
What hurts us can help us. And helping a person can sometimes hurt him. To give what you get can make a bad situation worse. Play may be what you need most at work. The worst that happens can bring about the best that happens. We sometimes need to yield in order to prevail. We often have to relinquish in order to receive. Selfishness is self-defeating. Self-giving is self-fulfilling. A wise man admits his foolishness, while a fool prides himself on his wisdom. A bright light can illumine or blind. Revelations can be concealments. Concealments often reveal. And the list goes on. You can probably add your own examples, aplenty.
There are many wonderful paradoxes and turnarounds in life - deep surprises and unexpected connections. The more you understand them, the better you can be guided by them, and the more you can benefit from their magic.
