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Quotes about truth and lies

458 quotes from 240 people

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I am no lover of disorder and doubt as such. Rather do I fear to lose truth by this pretension to possess it already wholly.
William James1842–1910The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902)
It is error alone that needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826A letter to Horatio Spofford (1814)
- Government
Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Notes on the State of Virginia (1785), Query VI (Richmond, 1853), p. 33
We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Letter to William Roscoe (27 December 1820)
There is not a truth existing which I fear or would wish unknown to the whole world.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Letter to Henry Lee (15 May 1826)
The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774)
- Government
It is always better to have no ideas than false ones; to believe nothing, than to believe what is wrong.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Letter From Thomas Jefferson to the Rev. James Madison, 19 July 1788
- Ideas
The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them; inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods & errors.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Letter to John Norvell (11 June 1807)
- Journalism
Since truth and reason have maintained their ground against false opinions in league with false facts, the press, confined to truth, needs no other legal restraint; the public judgment will correct false reasoning and opinions on a full hearing of all parties.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Jefferson’s Second Inaugural Address (1805)
- Freedom
- Journalism
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Jesus7 BC–AD 30The Sermon on the Mount
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
Jesus7 BC–AD 30The Gospel of John (1611), Gospel of John, 8:32In context
- Freedom
Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Jesus7 BC–AD 30The Gospel of John (1611), John 18:37 (KJV)In context
Every truth⁠—if it really is truth⁠—presents itself as universal, even if it is not the whole truth. If something is true, then it must be true for all people and at all times.
Pope John Paul II1920–2005Encyclical Fides et Ratio, 14 September 1998
Once the truth is denied to human beings, it is pure illusion to try to set them free. Truth and freedom either go together hand in hand or together they perish in misery.
Pope John Paul II1920–2005Encyclical Fides et Ratio, 14 September 1998
- Freedom
Among the calamities of war may be justly numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates and credulity encourages.
Samuel Johnson1709–1784The Idler (1758–1760), No. 30 (11 November 1758)
- War & Peace