Amusing English # 24 - Paradox

Every person who is passionate about the English language, knows very well, the importance, and the plain brilliance of coming up with some fabulous examples of paradox be it in grammar and composition, literature or in poetry.

A paradox is a statement, which appears to be true and false at the same time. A paradoxical statement Is self-contradicting, that defies logic and common sense, and still possibly true. It takes you a while to get a grip on such statements, even though it stares right at you.  Here are some interesting samples.

1. 'I always lie' is one of the classic paradox examples because if I always lie, then I would be lying now too. If we are considering the above untrue, then it implies that I don't always lie, which mean if this statement is in fact true, then it's probably false.
2. This is the beginning of the end.
3. Mozambique is a rich country of poor people.
4. Please ignore the notice.
5. Advertisement: If you are illiterate, then write to us and we will send you a free of charge instruction booklet on how to read.
6. I can resist anything except temptation.
7. I know that I know nothing." Knowing "know nothing" is knowing something thus cannot be "know nothing". This statement is self-contradictory, but one does find out that they know nothing.
8. Nobody goes to that restaurant, it's too crowded.
9. Don't go near water until you've learned to swim.
10. If you get this message, call me; if you don't, then don't worry about it.
11. In a country where a ruthless king ruled, there were stringent rules and regulation including the rule which banned the villagers from hunting on the King's premises. Anyone who violated rules was to be condemned to death. When the courtiers, approached the King in this matter, he softened and decreed that the culprit can decide whether he wants to die through beheading or hanging. One clever tramp rescued himself from this fate by requesting that if his statement is true, he should be beheaded but if it is false, he should be hanged. His statement was "I shall be hanged". This baffled the King and the court as they did not know if they hang him, rendering his statement true, that means he ought to be hanged and thus breaking the law. If he was to be beheaded, making his statement false, then he should be hanged. Paradox never gets solved and the poacher goes free.
12. "If you wish to preserve your secret, wrap it up in frankness. " ~ Alexander Smith
    
    The first time you read the sentence given above, you'll probably pass it off, as a joke of some sort, because secrets are meant to be hidden, by the very meaning of the word. But on reading it again, you'll realize, that it does make sense. How often have we seen that things hidden in plain sight, are the least likely to be spotted easily. Once we know that something is a secret, it is human nature, to think that it must be concealed in a place where no one can find it. We never look at the most obvious place, because we believe that it cannot be 'hidden' there. The sentence given above means exactly that, thus making it one of the good literary examples of paradox.

Cheers!