"I never give in to the temptation to be difficult just for the sake of being difficult. That would be too ridiculous"

Jacques Derrida’s reflection on resisting the temptation to be difficult simply for its own sake highlights an important tension within philosophy and intellectual discourse. His words recognize that complexity, nuance, and resistance to easy conclusions are often necessary and valuable, but they should never become a mode of self-indulgence or posturing. Derrida himself, often criticized for the opacity of his writing and the labyrinthine nature of deconstruction, directly confronts the accusation that he is difficult merely to appear profound or elusive. By denying any attraction to difficulty for its own sake, he underscores a commitment to seriousness and responsibility in thinking and discourse.

The allure to embrace difficulty as a marker of rigor or sophistication can be strong, especially in intellectual circles where ambiguity, paradox, and anti-simplicity are sometimes confused with depth. Derrida recognizes these temptations but asserts that succumbing to them would border on the absurd, a “ridiculous” affectation that values difficulty over substance. His approach insists on authenticity: embracing complication only when it is demanded by the subject matter, not out of a superficial desire to mystify or to distinguish oneself through obscurity.

This stance also serves as Derrida’s defense against those who dismiss challenging philosophy as intentionally obscure or needlessly difficult. While he does not shy away from complexity when it is warranted by the nuances of concepts like language, meaning, and difference, he explicitly rejects difficulty as a mere affectation. Such a position reflects a broader ethical commitment: the refusal to hide behind jargon or to create unnecessary barriers to understanding. Ultimately, Derrida’s words invite readers, thinkers, and writers to examine their own motivations for adopting complexity, urging intellectual honesty and clarity, even (or especially) when engaging with the most intricate of ideas.