In the exception paradox, the statement "every rule has an exception" leads to a contradiction. The argument # Every rule has an exception. # "Every rule has an exception." is a rule. # There is a rule R without exception. (by 1. and 2.) Since 3. is the negation of 1., there is a contradiction. From the logical point of view, this can be taken as a proof that the sentence "every rule has an exception" is false - a simple example of a proof technique known as reductio ad absurdum. Variations on the paradox * If everything is possible, then it is not possible for anything to be impossible. * The only rule is that there are no rules. * The only thing certain is that there is nothing certain. This may be shortened to "Nothing is certain.". * "Moderation in all things, including moderation", a quotation sometimes attributed to Petronius. * Ignore all rules
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