Paradigms for a metaphorology.pdf - Townsend Humanities Lab
Paradigms for a metaphorology.pdf - Townsend Humanities Lab
Paradigms for a metaphorology.pdf - Townsend Humanities Lab
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A Terminological and Metaphorological Cross Section 39<br />
it is . . . to attribute the superiority over us that truth gives an opponent to his dazzling<br />
style! I know of no dazzling style that does not borrow its brilliance from the<br />
truth, more or less. Truth alone gives real brilliance; and it must underlie mockery<br />
and farce as well, at least as a foil.” 30 Rhetoric can also furnish the model <strong>for</strong> a more<br />
comprehensive maxim, as when Vauvenargues writes: “. . . In itself, falsehood is<br />
weak and must carefully conceal itself; it takes a great deal of ef<strong>for</strong>t to hoodwink<br />
others with captivating speech. Yet one would be wrong to conclude that the art<br />
of eloquence consists solely therein. Does not this power of simple appearances of<br />
truth show how eloquent truth itself is, and how greatly superior to our own art!<br />
Only one who is adept at employing the truth and knows its power may consider<br />
himself clever.” 31 A prudential maxim of this kind is the residue of a metaphysical<br />
axiom; metaphor outlives its vital function of expressing one of the ontological<br />
surmises underlying and governing all conduct, figuring hence<strong>for</strong>th only as a kind<br />
of pragmatic crutch.<br />
30. Wie lächerlich . . . die Überlegenheit, welche die Wahrheit einem Gegner über uns gibt, einem blendenden<br />
Stile desselben zuzuschreiben! Ich kenne keinen blendenden Stil, der seinen Glanz nicht von der Wahrheit<br />
mehr oder weniger entlehnet. Wahrheit allein gibt echten Glanz; und muß auch bei Spötterei und Posse,<br />
wenigstens als Folie, unterliegen.<br />
31. Die französischen Moralisten, ed. F. Schalk I, 112. [. . . car le mensonge est faible par lui-même; il faut<br />
qu’il se cache avec soin; et s’il arrive qu’on persuade quelque chose par des discours captieux, ce n’est pas sans<br />
beacoup de peine. On aurait grand tort d’en conclure que ce soit en sela que consiste l’éloquence. Jugeons, au<br />
contraire, par ce pouvoir des simples apparences de la vérité, combien la vérité elle-même est éloquente et supérieure<br />
à notre art. Celui qui sait se servir avec adresse de la vérité et qui en connaît l’éloquence, peut seul se piquer<br />
d’être habile. Vauvenargues, Oeuvres complètes (Paris: Hachette, 1968), II, 276.]
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