I’ve written a great deal over the years about the subject of truth, which is why this particular line from A Few Good Men caught my attention. The truth can often be harsh. The truth can be scary. The truth can be embarrassing. The truth can be costly. Yes, for all these reasons, and more, most people can’t handle the truth.And because they can’t handle truth, they learn to hate it. That’s right, instead of loving truth, most people try to make true that which they love. They much prefer the comfort of self-delusion to the pain often associated with truth…In politics, for example, any newcomer quickly discovers that if he is totally committed to truth, he will likely find himself on the outside looking in. Because a majority of voters can’t handle the truth, politicians believe they have no choice but to lie. And if they refuse to do so, they usually — and quickly — become ex-politicians.
This is from self development and libertarian author Robert Ringer
Indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is like an unbootable CPU or a broken flash drive with tons of information that can no longer be accessed - like years of cherished family photos and memories.
We live in a day and age of positivity = success.
The truth unfortunately mostly belongs in the realm of problems and negativity.
Point out a problem with yourself, with society, with thought patterns and you immediately get labelled as a non-positive person.
In media, sometimes the real and utmost truth can get you killed.
We all have our failings.
Let it singe me to death, but let me die knowing that it has basked its light on me.
Veritas Lux Mea.
Hi Danny
ReplyDeleteI believe you hit the nail on the head when you wrote “We live in a day and age of positivity = success”
When society morally punishes failures, mistakes and accidents, expect conformism, slavish obedience, homogeneity, inertia and stoicism, or generally, a sheep like groupthink behavior to be its dominant character.
These are traits shaped by a welfare based flag waving collectivist political system.
Unfortunately a system grounded on a warped sense of populist ‘feel good’ ‘lynch mob’ morality rather than Veritas Lux Mea.
The great Ludwig von Mises and subsequently the Mises institute has imbued Virgil’s phrase (Æneis, 6, 95) as its motto…
tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito (do not give in to evil but proceed ever more boldly against it)
…of which this blog is committed to.
Best,
Benson