"The paradox is really the pathos of intellectual life and just as only great souls are exposed to passions it is only the great thinker who is exposed to what I call paradoxes, which are nothing else than grandiose thoughts in embryo"

Søren Kierkegaard's quote speaks to the idea that intellectual life has plenty of paradoxes, or seemingly contradictory ideas. He recommends that only fantastic thinkers are able to grapple with these paradoxes, as they are essentially grandiose thoughts in their early stages of development. In this method, Kierkegaard is recommending that intellectual life has lots of enthusiasm and emotion, just as great souls are exposed to passions. He is suggesting that the ability to believe deeply and grapple with paradoxes is a sign of greatness, which it is just those with great minds who can genuinely understand and appreciate the complexities of intellectual life. Eventually, Kierkegaard is recommending that intellectual life has plenty of paradoxes, which it is just those with great minds who can truly comprehend and value them.