A paradox is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or contrary to common sense, yet may in fact be true or at least contain an element of truth. It is often used in literature and rhetoric to create an element of surprise or to challenge the reader’s assumptions. A paradox can also be a situation or circumstance that seems to be contradictory or impossible but actually exists. An example of a paradox in literature is the statement “less is more,” which appears to contradict itself, but suggests that simplicity can be more effective than complexity. Another example is the statement “I am lying,” which cannot be true or false without creating a paradox.
