Those who say that all historical accounts are ideological constructs (which is one version of the idea that there is really no historical truth) rely on some story which must itself claim historical truth. They show that supposedly ‘objective’ historians have tendentiously told their stories from some particular perspective; they describe, for example, the biases that have gone into constructing various histories of the United States. Such an account, as a particular piece of history, may very well be true, but truth is a virtue that is embarrassingly unhelpful to a critic who wants not just to unmask past historians of America but to tell us that at the end of the line there is no historical truth. It is remarkable how complacent some ‘deconstructive’ histories are about the status of the history that they deploy themselves. Bernard Williams, Truth and Truthfulness 2002
A further turn is to be found in some ‘unmasking’ accounts of natural science, which aim to show that its pretensions to deliver the truth are unfounded, because of social forces that control its activities. Unlike the case of history, these do not use truths of the same kind; they do not apply science to the criticism of science. They apply the social sciences, and typically depend on the remarkable assumption that the sociology of knowledge is in a better position to deliver truth about science than science is to deliver truth about the world. ibid.
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. Proverbs 23:23
O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? Jeremiah 5:3
Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 9:4-6
Great is truth, and mighty above all things. I Esdras 4:41
For not all true things are the truth, nor should that truth which merely seems true according to human opinions be preferred to the true truth, that according to the faith. Letter of Clement of Alexandria on Secret Mark
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. III John 1:1-8
Confound not truth with falsehood, nor knowingly conceal the truth. Koran 2:42
‘Finding truth is difficult. And the road to it is rough. As seekers of the truth you will be wise to withhold judgment and not simply put your trust in the writings of the ancients. You must question and critical examine those writings from every side. You must submit only to argument and experiment and not to the sayings of any person. For every human being is vulnerable to all kinds of imperfection. As seekers of the truth we must also suspect and question our own ideas as we perform our investigations to avoid falling into prejudice or careless thinking. Take this course and truth will be revealed to you.’ Ibn Alhazen, cited Tyson’s Cosmos
He who upholds Truth with all the might of his power,
He who upholds Truth the utmost in his word and deed,
He, indeed, is Thy most valued helper, O Mazda Ahura! Ahunuvaiti Gatha; Yasna 31:22
The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to get to the Truth. It is no possession of the Truth, but rather the pursuit of Truth by which he extends his powers and in which his ever-growing perfectibility is to be found. Possession makes one passive, indolent and proud. If God were to hold all Truth concealed in his right hand, and in his left only the steady and diligent drive for Truth, albeit with the proviso that I would always and forever err in the process, and to offer me the choice, I would with all humility take the left hand. Gotthold Lessing, Anti-Goeze 1778
We associate truth with convenience, with what most closely accords with self-interest and personal well-being or promises best to avoid awkward effort or unwelcome dislocation of life. We also find highly acceptable what contributes more to self-esteem. John Kenneth Galbraith
Economic and social behaviours are complex, and to comprehend their character is mentally tiring. Therefore we adhere, as though to a raft, to those ideas which represent our understanding. John Kenneth Galbraith
Truth? How do you mean? Primal Fear 1996 starring Edward Norton & Richard Gere & Laura Linney & John Mahoney & Alfre Woodard & Frances McDormand & Reg Rogers & Terry O’Quinn & Andre Braugher & Steven Bauer & Joe Spano et al, director, opening scene
I don’t want to be stuck with the truth. Not until I have to be. The Night Of II, Stone, Sky Atlantic 2017
Now you just got a boy’s father killed. You almost got us killed. And now you’re lying to me. So how about this? From now on, every word out of your mouth is the truth. Or I’m going to hurt you. Do you understand? Drive 2011 starring Ryan Gosling & Carey Mulligan & Bryan Cranston & Albert Brooks & Oscar Isaac & Christina Hendricks & Ron Perlman & Kaden Leos & Jeff Wolfe & James Biberi & Russ Tamblyn et al, director Nicolas Winding Refn, Driver to Blanche
Sometimes people can surprise you. Sometimes they have a great capacity to hear the truth. The Verdict 1982 starring Paul Newman & Charlotte Rampling & Jack Warden & James Mason & Milo O’Shea & Lindsay Crouse & Edward Binns & Julie Bovasso & Roxanne Hart & James Handy & Wesley Addy & Joe Seneca et al, director Sidney Lumet, Dr Thompson
She told the truth and she told it fast. Ray Donovan s6e8: Who Once Was Dead, Terry to bloke in bar, of Abby, Sky Atlantic 2018
We choose truth over facts. Joe Biden, 8th August Iowa
The ultimate hidden truth of the world is that it is something we make. And could just as easily make differently. David Graeber, 1961-2020, cited Adam Curtis, Can’t Get You Out of My Head I: Bloodshed on Wolf Mountain, BBCiplayer 2021
There is no more sovereign eloquence than the truth in indignation. Victor Hugo
In practical life we are compelled to follow what is most probable; in speculative thought we are compelled to follow truth. Baruch Spinoza, The Letters
’Cause he told the truth, and once you’ve heard the truth, everything else is just cheap whiskey. Switchback 1997 starring Dennis Quaid & Danny Glover & Jared Leto & R Lee Ermey & William Fichtner & Ted Lavine & Walton Goggins & Maggie Roswell & Allison Smith & Julio Oscar Mechoso, Sheriff
Money has created a society where nobody believes in anything, and nothing can be trusted. Adam Curtis, Can’t Get You Out of My Head VI Are We a Pigeon? Or Are We Dancer? ***** BBCiplayer 2021
The nexus of truth and comedy. The Corbett Report: Laughing at Tyrants, James Corbett online June 2015
The pandemic has altered the way Americans understand reality. The nation has fractured. Divisions are widening. So what is real and what is not? The Truth Illusion, Al Jazeera Investigates 2022
Neo-Conservatives built a new global economic order and they tried to create a new political reality. ibid.
Why is it Americans tolerate their reality being manipulated? ibid.
In the new reality, the majority are encouraged to vote for politicians who serve a wealthy minority. ibid.
‘The bullshitter is more dangerous than the liar.’ ibid.