Seize upon truth, wherever it is found, amongst your friends, amongst your foes, on Christian or on heathen ground; the flower’s divine where’er it grows.
—Isaac Watts (1674–1748) English Hymn writer
The liar is worse than the thief.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
We must not let go manifest truths because we cannot answer all questions about them.
—Jeremy Collier (1650–1726) Anglican Church Historian, Clergyman
The basic truth of all things, as nearly as we may ever dream of determining and knowing this truth, is form, that which is, as it is. The way and shape of the thing no less than the thing itself.
—William Saroyan (1908–81) American Playwright, Novelist
Something unpleasant is coming when men are anxious to tell the truth.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.
—Buddhist Teaching
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Many a doctrine is like a window pane. We see truth through it but it divides us from truth.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
The more abstract the truth you want to teach, the more thoroughly you must seduce the senses to accept it.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Time is precious, but truth is more precious than time.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Most writers regard truth as their most valuable possession, and therefore are most economical in it use.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all occasions.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
It will never be possible by pure reason to arrive at some absolute truth.
—Werner Heisenberg (1901–76) German Theoretical Physicist
General, abstract truth is the most precious of all blessings; without it man is blind, it is the eye of reason.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Women have been conditioned to believe that to be powerful is unfeminine and unattractive. It is my experience that nothing could be further from the truth.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Do you want to be right more than you want to know the truth? It’s the truth that set me free. Acceptance, peace, and less attachment to a world of suffering are all effects of doing The Work. They’re not the goals. Do The Work for the love of freedom, for the love of truth.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Some modern zealots appear to have no better knowledge of truth, nor better manner of judging it, than by counting noses.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
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
If truth is beauty, then how come no one has their hair done in a library?
—Lily Tomlin (b.1939) American Comedy Actress
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
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
Better suffer for the truth than prosper in a falsehood.
—Danish Proverb
Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the desire to serve…Learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, you will achieve your destiny.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
Tell the truth, but tell it slant.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Whenever, therefore, people are deceived and form opinions wide of the truth, it is clear that the error has slid into their minds through the medium of certain resemblances to that truth.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
All great truths are simple in final analysis, and easily understood; if they are not, they are not great truths.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
When the remedy you have offered only increases the disease, then leave him who will not be cured, and tell your story to someone who seeks the truth.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
Say not, ‘I have found THE truth,’ but rather, ‘I have found A truth.’.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widely spread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
I seek the truth…it is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance that does harm.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Being free of pretence does not mean you are in touch with the truth. Sincerity is not proof.
—Unknown
Truth is something which can’t be told in a few words. Those who simplify the universe only reduce the expansion of its meaning.
—Anais Nin (1903–77) French-American Essayist
Truth is not a matter of personal viewpoint.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Spiritual Teacher, Philosopher
Love truth, and pardon error.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
No pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage-ground of truth.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth, and pursue it steadily. Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy nation.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Falsehood is cowardice, the truth courage.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Truth is neither alive nor dead; it just aggravates itself all the time.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul.
—James Allen (1864–1912) British Philosophical Writer
It is the truth that irritates a person.
—Spanish Proverb
There is nothing so strong or safe in an emergency of life as the simple truth.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
I had to learn to forgive myself, not to judge, but to learn from the past. They showed me how vital it is to accept, be truthful, and love myself. So I could do the same with others.
—Marlo Morgan (1937–98) American Novelist, Author
As has been finely expressed, “Principle is a passion for truth,” And as an earlier and homelier writer hath it, “The truths we believe in are the pillars of our world.”
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
You never see what you want to see, forever playing to the gallery.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
The truth is cruel, but it can be loved, and it makes free those who have loved it.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher