Monsieur Teste Author:Paul Valery The famous opening line of Monsieur Teste "Stupidity is not my strong suit" is typical of Monsieur Teste, and of Valery as well. Although not autobriographical in any usual sense, the book is profoundly personal. Valery said he could not imagine the existence of the novel, yet he could not resist the charancter living in his mind. On the one ha... more »nd, Monsieur Teste reflects Valery's preoccupation with the phenomenon of a mind detached from sensibility; on the other, he is an ordinary fictional chacter seen from many viewpoints.« less