by Stanisław Jerzy Lec (Translated from Polish by Krzysztof Cieszkowski) - review by Stanisław Jerzy Lec

Stanisław Jerzy Lec

Poem from ‘Unkempt Thoughts’

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Proverbs contradict each other; that constitutes human wisdom.
In the beginning was the Word; later on there was the Cliché.
I prefer the sign “No Entry” to the sign “No Exit”.
When you pull down a statue, always leave the plinth standing; you will need it for the next statue.
You must generate ideas in such quantity that you run out of cages for them.
His conscience was clean; he had never used it. His mind was open; you could see right through it.
Contrary to the laws of physics, the greater the friction between people, the colder they become.
There’s always an Eskimo prepared to teach an African how to act during a heatwave.
Is scepticism an adequate philosophy of life? Sceptics are sceptical about this.
Chaos is the order that was destroyed at the time of the Creation.
Folly is the mother of evil. But its father is usually Wisdom.
In order to attain immortality, you must first of all die.
Your life is in your own hands; keep them clean.
The poet felt he was growing wings; but he was surprised to find he had become a bat.
Prometheus stole the fire that destroyed Giordano Bruno.
You must sacrifice everything to humanity. Except humans.

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