Oxymoronica

ox-y-mor-on-i-ca (OK-se-mor-ON-uh-ca) noun, plural: Any variety of tantalizing, self-contradictory statements or observations that on the surface appear false or illogical, but at a deeper level are true, often profoundly true. See also oxymoron, paradox.

And, a wonderful writing exercise for students!

You won’t find the word “oxymoronica” in any dictionary (at least not yet) because Dr. Mardy Grothe introduces it tostudents in this delightful collection of 1,400 of the most provocative quotations of all time. From ancient thinkers like Confucius, Aristotle, and Saint Augustine to great writers like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and G. B. Shaw to modern social observers like Woody Allen and Lily Tomlin, Oxymoronica celebrates the power and beauty of paradoxical thinking.

All areas of human activity are explored, including love, sex and romance, politics, the arts, the literary life, and, of course, marriage and family life. The wise and witty observations in this book are as highly entertaining as they are intellectually nourishing and are sure to grab the attention of language lovers everywhere.

Here are just a few examples:

“Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad.”—Victor Hugo

“To lead the people, walk behind them.”—Lao-tzu

“You’d be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap.”—Dolly Parton