It is easy, therefore, to see the true paradox as being false; as being an easy trick and therefore worthless. It is an easy trick, but it is in no way worthless. A well executed paradox stirs the soul and mixes language and philosophy in a way that no other figure does. Paul Simon was on to something when he titled his song ‘The Sound of Silence’, and his verse about people talking without speaking, and about people hearing without listening, was easy for him, but that makes it no less beautiful to us.
beautiful, maybe, but cheap. we must give the reader a clue as to how the paradox is possible. without that we expect the reader to do so, and if they can't then the paradox fails
