CURATED COLLECTION

Telling the Truth

Honesty is one of the most demanding disciplines — and one of the most underrated forms of courage.

50 quotes found

“
It is always necessary to say what one thinks, and not to be afraid of it.

—Maxim GorkyAuthor, Activist & Revolutionary

Early Modern ERA • Eastern Europe

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Perhaps we must invent the truth, if the given one is not enough.

—Ingeborg BachmannPoet & Writer

Post-War ERA • Western Europe

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The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, the divine in us begins to wither.

—Elizabeth Cady StantonActivist

Industrial Age ERA • North America

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In every generation there has to be some fool who will speak the truth as he sees it.

—Boris PasternakPoet, Novelist & Doctor

Post-War ERA • Eastern Europe

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Who fears for the truth will not speak it.

—Karel Havlíček BorovskýJournalist, Poet & Satirist

Industrial Age ERA • Eastern Europe

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I have always done my best to follow the dictates of truth.

—Benvenuto CelliniSculptor, Writer & Artist

Renaissance ERA • Southern Europe

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One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.

—Malala YousafzaiActivist

Digital Age ERA • South Asia

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Skepticism is the first step towards truth.

—Denis DiderotPhilosopher, Writer & Editor

Enlightenment ERA • Western Europe

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Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it.

—MaimonidesPhilosopher & Physician

Medieval ERA • MENA

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Lies are the religion of slaves and masters. Truth is the God of the free man.

—Maxim GorkyAuthor, Activist & Revolutionary

Early Modern ERA • Eastern Europe

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The white man comes with honey in one hand and a sword in the other.

—Samori TouréEmperor

Industrial Age ERA • West Africa

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The truth is a burning coal that cannot be hidden.

—Julia de BurgosPoet & Activist

Early Modern ERA • Caribbean

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Let the critics speak, their words are but dust against truth's sun.

—Mihri HatunPoet

Renaissance ERA • MENA

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All who are of truth, listen to my voice.

—Michael ServetusTheologian & Physician

Renaissance ERA • Southern Europe

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Humor is the last refuge of sincerity in a hypocritical world, a sharp truth.

—Juan VilloroNovelist, Journalist & Essayist

Digital Age ERA • Latin America

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To be free, one must break the chains of prejudice and superstition.

—Denis DiderotPhilosopher, Writer & Editor

Enlightenment ERA • Western Europe

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One can perfectly well philosophize while cooking dinner.

—Sor Juana Inés de la CruzPoet, Philosopher & Feminist

Renaissance ERA • Latin America

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Is man one of God's blunders, or is God one of man's blunders?

—Friedrich NietzschePhilosopher

Industrial Age ERA • Western Europe

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Our only task: to look life in the eye.

—Gyula IllyésPoet & Writer

Post-War ERA • Eastern Europe

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One must be hard and truthful and without self‑indulgence to be a writer.

—V.S. NaipaulNovelist

Post-War ERA • Caribbean

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