The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Things are as they are. Looking out into it the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.
—Alan Watts (1915–73) British Buddhist Philosopher, Writer, Speaker
It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentional lying, that there is so much falsehood in the world.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist, Biographer, Poet, Writer, Literary Critic
Our conscious motivations, ideas, and beliefs are a blend of false information, biases, irrational passions, rationalizations, prejudices, in which morsels of truth swim around and give the reassurance albeit false, that the whole mixture is real and true. The thinking processes attempt to organize this whole cesspool of illusions according to the laws of plausibility. This level of consciousness is supposed to reflect reality; it is the map we use for organizing our life.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German Psychologist, Psychoanalyst, Philosopher
Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader, Philosopher, Civil Rights Activist
Live truth instead of professing it.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
We do not condemn the preachers as an individual but we condemn what they teach. We urge that the preachers teach the truth, to teach our people the one important guiding rule of conduct — unity of purpose.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Muslim Religious Leader, Human Rights Activist
The grand character of truth is its capability of enduring the test of universal experience, and coming unchanged out of every possible form of fair discussion.
—John Herschel (1792–1871) English Mathematician, Astronomer, Chemist
When a man tells you that he knows the exact truth about anything you are safe in inferring that he is an inexact man.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Logician, Mathematician, Historian, Social Critic
The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie—deliberate, contrived, and dishonest—but the myth—persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Evil thoughts, lusts, and malicious purposes cannot go forth, like wandering pollen, from one human mind to another, finding unsuspected lodgment, if virtue and truth build a strong defence.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
Begin to act from your dominion. Declare the truth by telling yourself that there is nothing to be afraid of, that you no longer entertain any images of fear.
—Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) American New Thought Writer, Teacher
The cruelest lies are often told in silence. A man may have sat in a room for hours and not opened his mouth, and yet come out of that room a disloyal friend or a vile calumniator.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Author
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
—Max Planck (1858–1947) German Physicist
The greatest truths are the simplest, and so are the greatest men.
—Julius Charles Hare (1795–1855) English Theologian, Writer
Truth exists, only falsehood has to be invented.
—Georges Braque (1882–1963) French Painter, Artist, Sculptor
Many people would be more truthful were it not for their uncontrollable desire to talk.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
The search for truth is more precious than its possession.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Theoretical Physicist, Philosopher, Author, Activist
There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
If one tells the truth, one is sure, sooner or later, to be found out.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
Truth lives on in the midst of deception.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Truth will ultimately prevail where there are plans taken to bring it to light.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Stick to the old truths and the old paths, and learn their divineness by sick beds, and in everyday work, and do not darken your mind with intellectual puzzles, which may breed disbelief, but can never breed vital religion or practical usefulness.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
No one truth is rightly held till it is clearly conceived and stated, and no single truth is adequately comprehended till it is viewed in harmonious relations to all the other truths of the system of which Christ is the centre.
—Archibald Alexander Hodge (1823–86) American Presbyterian Theologian
Truth is truth. If you hurt someone, you hurt self. If you help someone, you help self.
—Marlo Morgan (1937–98) American Novelist, Author
Truth will sooner come out from error than from confusion.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher, Political leader, Scientist, Lawyer
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
He who has learnt to control his tongue has attained self-control in a great measure. When such a person speaks he will be heard with respect and attention. His words will be remembered, for they will be good and true. When one who is established in truth prays with a pure heart, then things he really needs come to him when they are really needed: he does not have to run after them. The man firmly established in truth gets the fruit of his actions without apparently doing anything. God, the source of all truth, supplies his needs and looks after his welfare.
—B. K. S. Iyengar (b.1918) Indian Hindu Yoga Teacher, Author
Perfect truth is possible only with knowledge, and in knowledge the whole essence of the thing operates on the soul and is joined essentially to it.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher
Live authentically. Live your truth. And if you love me for anything, love me because I live mine.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life you have known yourself to be these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
If I had my hand full of truth, I would take good care how I opened it.
—Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle (1657–1757) French Essayist
You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or who says it.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Muslim Religious Leader, Human Rights Activist
People always think something’s all true.
—J. D. Salinger (1919–2010) American Actor
If ever we hear a case of lying, we must look for a severe parents. A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt as dangerous.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychologist, Psychiatrist
Let your desire for truth transcend all minor considerations. Ignorance is invariably confident. The man of knowledge learns to realize his own needs. Be honest and severe in your self-appraisal. Learn the art of learning, and you are well on the way to achievement. True greatness is reflective, not assertive.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
The truth is often a terrible weapon of aggression. It is possible to lie, and even to murder, with the truth.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychologist, Psychiatrist
And in the end, through the long ages of our quest for light, it will be found that truth is still mightier than the sword. For out of the welter of human carnage and human sorrow and human weal the indestructible thing that will always live is a sound idea.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
He that opposes his own judgment against the consent of the times ought to be backed with unanswerable truths; and he that has truth on his side is a fool, as well as a coward, if he is afraid to own it because of other men’s opinions.
—Daniel Defoe (1659–1731) English Writer, Journalist, Pamphleteer
There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) African-American Poet, Author, Civil Rights Activist
The great advantage about telling the truth is that nobody ever believes it.
—Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) British Novelist, Playwright, Essayist, Translator, Poet
Truth breeds hatred.
—Bias of Priene Ancient Greek Philosopher
The love of truth lies at the root of much humor.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canada Journalist, Playwright, Academic, Critic, Novelist
When two truths seem directly opposed to each other, we must not question either, but remember there is a third — God — who reserves to himself the right to harmonize them.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Christian Mystic
What is true of the individual will be tomorrow true of the whole nation if individuals will but refuse to lose heart and hope.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader, Philosopher, Civil Rights Activist
It will never be possible by pure reason to arrive at some absolute truth.
—Werner Heisenberg (1901–76) German Theoretical Physicist
The best mind-altering drug is truth.
—Lily Tomlin
It is easier to find a score of men wise enough to discover the truth than to find one intrepid enough, in the face of opposition, to stand up for it.
—Archibald Alexander Hodge (1823–86) American Presbyterian Theologian
In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader, Philosopher, Civil Rights Activist
I am the fellow citizen of every being that thinks; my country is Truth.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Writer, Poet, Politician, Memoirist
I’m going to speak my mind because I have nothing to lose.
—S. I. Hayakawa (1906–92) Canadian-born American Academic, Elected Rep, Politician
Whatever has a mystery thrown round it causes the truth to appear more grand and awful.
—Francis Thompson (1859–1907) English Poet, Ascetic
Eclecticism. Every truth is so true that any truth must be false.
—F. H. Bradley (1846–1924) British Philosopher
The truth is found when men are free to pursue it.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
In seeking absolute truth we aim at the unattainable, and must be content with finding broken portions.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician, Educator, Historian
Man with his burning soul has but an hour of breath to build a ship of truth in which his soul may sail — sail on the sea of death, for death takes toll of beauty, courage, youth, of all but truth.
—John Masefield (1878–1967) English Poet, Novelist, Playwright
No pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage-ground of truth.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher, Political leader, Scientist, Lawyer
No problem can be solved until it is reduced to some simple form. The changing of a vague difficulty into a specific, concrete form is a very essential element in thinking.
—J. P. Morgan (1837–1913) American Businessperson, Investor
Falsehood is cowardice, the truth courage.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Universalist Clergyman, Writer
You never see what you want to see, forever playing to the gallery.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canada Journalist, Playwright, Academic, Critic, Novelist
Nature never deceives us; it is we who deceive ourselves.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss Philosopher, Writer, Composer
Ultimately, our troubles are due to dogma and deduction; we find no new truth because we take some venerable but questionable proposition as the indubitable starting point, and never think of putting this assumption itself to a test of observation or experiment.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Entrepreneur, Business
Truth is the secret of eloquence and of virtue, the basis of moral authority; it is the highest summit of art and of life.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Philosopher, Poet, Critic
The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
You ought to be true for the sake of the folks who think you are true. You never should stoop to a deed that your folks think you would not do. If you are false to yourself, be the blemish but small, you have injured your folks; you have been false to them all.
—Edgar Guest (1881–1959) English-born American Poet, Radio Personality, TV Personality
I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.
—Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) Italian Author, Playwright, Poet, Satirist
Truth is one forever absolute, but opinion is truth filtered through the moods, the blood, the disposition of the spectator.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Social Activist, Lawyer, Orator
The spirit of truth and the spirit of freedom-they are the pillars of society.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright, Poet, Theater Personality
The true snob never rests: there is always a higher goal to attain, and there are, by the same token, always more and more people to look down upon.
—Russell Lynes (1910–91) American Art Historian, Photographer, Author, Editor
When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) Prussian-German Political leader, Nationalist
If you shut your door to all errors, truth will be shut out.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Indian Hindu Polymath, Novelist, Poet, Essayist, Philosopher
Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit.
—Edward R. Murrow (1908–65) American Journalist, Radio Personality
We know how to speak many falsehoods that resemble real things, but we know, when we will, how to speak true things.
—Hesiod (b.1493) Greek Poet, Economist
Everybody says it, and what everybody says must be true.
—James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) American Novelist
Truth arises more readily from error than from confusion.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher, Political leader, Scientist, Lawyer
Truth is neither alive nor dead; it just aggravates itself all the time.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist, Satirist, Short Story Writer, Author, Lecturer
There are admirable potentialities in every human being. Believe in your strength and your youth. Learn to repeat endlessly to yourself, ‘It all depends on me’.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist, Essayist
If you want to annoy your neighbors, tell the truth about them.
—Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) Italian Author, Playwright, Poet, Satirist
To be persuasive, we must be believable; to be believable, we must be credible; to be credible, we must be truthful.
—Edward R. Murrow (1908–65) American Journalist, Radio Personality
Do you want a sign that you’re asleep? Here it is: you’re suffering. Suffering is a sign that you’re out of touch with the truth. Suffering is given to you that you might open your eyes to the truth, that you might understand that there’s falsehood somewhere, just as physical pain is given to you so you will understand that there is disease or illness somewhere. Suffering occurs when you clash with reality. When your illusions clash with reality, when your falsehoods clash with truth, then you have suffering. Otherwise there is no suffering.
—Anthony de Mello (1931–87) Indian-born American Theologian