Paradox derives from the Greek word paradoxon, which means “beyond belief.” It’s a statement that asks people to think outside the box by providing seemingly illogical — and yet actually true — premises. Example: In George Orwell’s 1984, the slogan of the totalitarian government is built on paradoxes: 'War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.' While we might read these statements as obviously contradictory, in the context of Orwell’s novel, these blatantly corrupt sentiments have become an accepted truth.