“Minds are like parachutes—they only work when they’re open.”
— Humfray P. Paradox
Who was Humfray P. Paradox?
Often described as the “thinking person’s conundrum,” Humfray Percival Paradox (1902–1977) was a British balloonist, amateur philosopher, and part-time haberdasher. Best known for getting stuck in a revolving door for three hours while contemplating freedom, Paradox spent much of his life writing contradictory essays and taking both sides in arguments — often simultaneously.
This particular quote was first muttered while skydiving over the Cotswolds in 1934. His parachute opened. His mind followed shortly after.
Humfray believed that stubbornness was the enemy of wisdom. He urged people to keep their thoughts flexible, elastic, and slightly drafty — lest they crash land in ignorance.
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