TRUTH QUOTES XIV

quotations about truth

Sometimes it is easier to see clearly into the liar than into the man who tells the truth. Truth, like light, blinds. Falsehood, on the contrary, is a beautiful twilight that enhances every object.

ALBERT CAMUS

The Fall

Tags: Albert Camus


A person is strong only when he stands upon his own truth, when he speaks and acts from his deepest convictions. Then, whatever the situation he may be in, he always knows what he must say and do. He may fall, but he cannot bring shame upon himself or his cause.

MIKHAIL BAKUNIN

God and the State

Tags: Mikhail Bakunin


There is no religion higher than the truth.

MARK FROST

The List of Seven

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But that battered word, truth, having made its appearance here, confronts one immediately with a series of riddles and has, moreover, since so many gospels are preached, the unfortunate tendency to make one belligerent.

JAMES BALDWIN

Notes of a Native Son

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In all perception of the truth there is a divine ecstasy, an inexpressible delirium of joy, as when a youth embraces his betrothed virgin.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Familiar Letters


I never encourage deceit, and falsehood, especially if you have got a bad memory, is the worst enemy a fellow can have. The fact is truth is your truest friend, no matter what the circumstances are.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

letter to George E. Pickett, February 22, 1841

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Whatever truth you contribute to the world will be one lucky shot in a thousand misses. You cannot be right by holding your breath and taking precautions.

WALTER LIPPMANN

"Taking a Chance", Force and Ideas: The Early Writings

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An ingenious web of probabilities is the surest screen a wise man can place between himself and the truth.

GEORGE ELIOT

Adam Bede

Tags: George Eliot


Belief in the truth commences with the doubting of all those "truths" we once believed.

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE

"Truth Will Have No Other Gods Alongside It"

Tags: Friedrich Nietzsche


Our mind is dreadfully active sometimes, and the other day we began to speculate on Truth. Our friends are still avoiding us. Every man knows what Truth is, but it is impossible to utter it. The face of your listener, his eyes mirthful or sorry, his eager expectance or his churlish disdain insensibly distort your message. You find yourself saying what you know he expects you to say, or (more often) what he expects you not to say. You may not be aware of this, but that is what happens. In order that the world may go on and human beings thrive, nature has contrived that the Truth may not often be uttered.

CHRISTOPHER MORLEY

"Truth", Mince Pie


With the truth, all given facts harmonize; but with what is false, the truth soon hits a wrong note.

ARISTOTLE

Nicomachean Ethics


The truth
Has to be melted out of our stubborn lives
By suffering.
Nothing speaks the truth,
Nothing tells us how things really are,
Nothing forces us to know
What we do not want to know
Except pain.
And this is how the gods declare their love.

AESCHYLUS

The Oresteia

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If it were true what in the end would be gained? Nothing but another truth. Is this such a mighty advantage? We have enough old truths still to digest, and even these we would be quite unable to endure if we did not sometimes flavor them with lies.

GEORG CHRISTOPH LICHTENBERG

"Notebook E", Aphorisms

Tags: Georg Christoph Lichtenberg


Truth, like good medicine, is oftentimes repugnant to our present feelings, but gives vigour afterwards.

EDWARD COUNSEL

Maxims


In your admiration for truth do not forget that truth can sometimes be as foul as a lie.

AUSTIN O'MALLEY

Keystones of Thought


The most effectual method of expelling error, is, not to meet it sword in hand, but gradually to instill great truths, with which it cannot easily coexist.

WILLIAM E. CHANNING

Thoughts

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Truth is a chameleon.

BRIAN HERBERT & KEVIN J. ANDERSON

Dune: House Atreides

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The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.

FLANNERY O'CONNOR

letter, September 6, 1955

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The only thing in the world we really possess is our knowledge of the truth.

AUSTIN O'MALLEY

Keystones of Thought


There is truth and falsehood in a comma.

TOM STOPPARD

The Invention of Love

Tags: Tom Stoppard