Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons. The truth will win this marathon in court.
—Michael Jackson (1958–2009) American Singer-Songwriter
No truth so sublime but it may be seen to be trivial tomorrow in the light of new thoughts.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Men must love the truth before they thoroughly believe it.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Truth fears nothing but concealment.
—Common Proverb
Five things constitute perfect virtue: gravity, magnanimity, earnestness, sincerity and kindness.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
All these constructions and the laws connecting them can be arrived at by the principle of looking for the mathematically simplest concepts and the link between them.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter lies in the depth, where few are willing to search for it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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, Polymath, Philosopher
You never find yourself until you face the truth.
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, Writer
What a man sees only in his best moments as truth is truth in all moments.
—Joseph Cook
For truth is precious and divine, too rich a pearl for carnal swine.
—Samuel Butler
We have to live today by what truth we can get today and be ready tomorrow to call it falsehood.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
To all new truths, or renovation of old truths, it must be as in the ark between the destroyed and the about-to-be renovated world. The raven must be sent out before the dove, and ominous controversy must precede peace and the olive wreath.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
According to Democritus, truth lies at the bottom of a well, the water of which serves as a mirror in which objects may be reflected.—I have heard, however, that some philosophers, in seeking for truth, to pay homage to her, have seen their own image and adored it instead.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
The greatest enemy of any one of our truths may be the rest of our truths.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
The truth is on the march and nothing will stop it.
—Emile Zola (1840–1902) French Novelist
Truth does not do as much good in the world, as its counterfeit does mischief.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Weigh not so much what men assert, as what they prove. Truth is simple and naked, and needs not invention to apparel her comeliness.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.
—Unknown
I am the fellow citizen of every being that thinks; my country is Truth.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
The first step toward finding God, Who is Truth, is to discover the truth about myself: and if I have been in error, this first step to truth is the discovery of my error.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
The most natural beauty in the world is honesty and moral truth; for all beauty is truth. True features make the beauty of a face; and true proportions the beauty of architecture; as true measures that of harmony and music. In poetry, which is all fable, truth still is the perfection.
—Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–83) British Statesman
Those who know the truth are not equal to those who love it Confucius All truth is safe and nothing else is safe, but he who keeps back truth, or withholds it from men, from motives of expediency, is either a coward or a criminal.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Do not be angry with me if I tell you the truth
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Truth, after all, wears a different face to everybody, and it would be too tedious to wait till all were agreed.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
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
Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealand-born British Author
To seek for the truth, for the sake of knowing the truth, is one of the noblest objects a man can live for.
—William Motter Inge (1913–73) American Playwright, Novelist
The teller of a mirthful tale has latitude allowed him. We are content with less than absolute truth.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
He who seeks truth should be of no country.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
It is the truth that irritates a person.
—Spanish Proverb
Careless seems the great Avenger; history’s pages but record
One death-grapple in the darkness twixt old systems and the Word;
Truth forever on the scaffold,
Wrong forever on the throne,
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.
New occasions teach new duties;
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth;
Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! we ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Futures portal with the Pasts blood-rusted key.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
By the accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love and kindness he may rule the world forever.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
The greatest homage we can pay to truth is to use it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There is no Truth. There is only the truth within each moment.
—Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) Indian Hindu Mystic
Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
Truth is heavy, therefore few carry it.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
This is the punishment of the liar, that when he tells the truth nobody believes him.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Be not so bigoted to any custom as to worship it at the expense of truth.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
The solutions all are simple—after you have arrived at them. But they’re simple only when you know already what they are.
—Robert M. Pirsig (b.1928) American Writer, Philosopher, Author
It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Let the people know the truth and the country is safe.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Truth, when not sought after, rarely comes to light.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
No real gentleman will tell the naked truth in the presence of ladies.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist