OXYMORONICA

A must-have for language lovers, this compendium contains hundreds of mind-stretching observations that are contradictory or illogical on one level, yet true, witty, and often profound on another.

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

For example:

"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

For over a decade Dr. Mardy Grothe has delighted readers with this 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, romance, politics, the arts, marriage and family, and, of course, the literary life. Sure to grab the attention of language lovers everywhere, the wise and witty observations in this book are as entertaining as they are intellectually nourishing. 

This one-of-a-kind collection of oxymorons and paradoxes explores:

• Witty Observations: Discover why Dolly Parton claimed, "You’d be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap," and explore hundreds of other zingers from Oscar Wilde, G. B. Shaw, and Woody Allen.
• Profound Truths: Unpack the wisdom in ancient paradoxes like Lao-tzu’s "To lead the people, walk behind them," from thinkers as diverse as Confucius and Saint Augustine.
• Contradictions in Terms: Delve into the "sweet sorrow" and "happy agony" of the oxymoron, the rhetorical device that packs a punch by revealing truth through contradiction.
• For Language Lovers: A mind-stretching journey through 1,400 of history’s most provocative quotations, exploring everything from politics and love to the literary life itself.

 Dr. Mardy Grothe is a retired psychologist, management consultant, and platform speaker; the author of six books on words and language; the creator of Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations; and one of America’s most beloved quotation anthologists. He lives in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with his wife, Katherine Robinson.