Something we cannot see protects us from something we do not understand. The thing we cannot see is culture, in its intrapsychic or internal manifestation. The thing we do not understand is the chaos that gave rise to culture. If the structure of culture is disrupted, unwittingly, chaos returns. We will do anything — anything — to defend ourselves against that return.

we can’t see what we aren’t looking for, and don’t notice what we don’t notice.

It is hard indeed to notice anything for which the languages available to us have no description.

They do not see what they look at, hence they know not what they do.

Paradox is a pointer telling you to look beyond it. If paradoxes bother you, that betrays your deep desire for absolutes. The relativist treats a paradox merely as interesting, perhaps amusing or even, dreadful thought, educational.

PARADOX: A statement that reduces the matter at hand to complete obscurity while clarifying it. [...] Paradoxes are sensitive and can be routed by sneering.

The things I haven't seen with my own eyes are for me unknown.

Whoever cannot seek
the unforseen, sees nothing
for the known way
is an impasse.

Whoever cannot seek the unforeseen sees nothing, for the known way is an impasse.

That is the marvel -- to question but not to understand. Seeing is the true language of perception. Understanding is for words. As far as I am concerned, after I've made the work, I've said everything I can say.

Paradox is the technique for seizing the conflicting aspects of any problem. Paradox coalesces or telescopes various facets of a complex process in a single instant. (p. 106)

We cannot understand. The best is perhaps what we understand least.

Whoever cannot seek the unforeseen sees nothing for the known way is an impasse.

We never see the true state of our condition till it is illustrated to us by its contraries, nor know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it.