And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
—II Thessalonians 2:10
6938 Diogenes And His Lamp
Diogenes (412 B.C.) made himself most unwelcome in Athens by trudging about barefoot without wearing a proper outer robe. He was best-known for carrying a lantern during daylight hours, thrusting the lantern in the face of people, “I am looking for an honest man.” He never found the man.
6939 Truth’s Own Airs
When a man knows he is telling you the truth everything about him corroborates his sincerity. Any accomplished cross-examining lawyer knows within a little while whether a witness is genuine or a deceiver. Truth has her own air and manner, her own tone and emphasis.
Yonder is a blundering, ignorant, country fellow in the witness box; the counsel tries to bamboozle and confuse him, if possible, but all the while he feels that he is an honest witness, and he says to himself, “I should like to shake this fellow’s evidence, for it will greatly damage my side of the question.”
—Spurgeon
6940 Truth From Battle-Shock
General S. L. A. Marshall discovered that men interviewed after battle are in such a state of shock that they can only tell the truth: officially it is called group method. General Marshall says that the average man cannot lie in the presence of comrades who would contradict him if he were telling an untruth; haunted by the memory of the recent dead, he will not lie.
—Ministers’ Research Service
6941 She Repeated Algebra Four Times
Sometime ago the dean of an American college discovered that a woman for the last four years had elected the same course in algebra even though she had passed it the first time.
The dean inquired of her for an explanation. The woman said she was so tired of arguing with her neighbors about everything in the world that she wanted to study something she couldn’t argue about.
Mathematical computations certainly do not change. Two times two will eternally be four. And that truth is authoritative as well as eternal.
6942 Young Napoleon’s Essay On Truth
In 1791 the Academy at Lyons offered a prize for the best essay on the subject “What Truths and Sentiments Is It Most Necessary to Impress upon Men For Their Happiness?” Among the contestants was a young man of whom the world would shortly hear much—the young Napoleon. Napoleon’s essay was full of truth and elevated ideas.
6943 Court Jester And Henry VIII
Henry VIII., King of England, wrote a silly book against Martin Luther, for which the Pope conferred on him the title “Defender of the Faith.” As that tyrant appeared to be overjoyed at the acquisition, the Jester of the court asked the reason; and being told that it was because the Pope had given him that new title, the shrewd fool replied, “My good Henry, let thee and me defend each other, and let the faith alone to defend itself.”
6944 Returning That Egg
It is said that when Grover Cleveland was a boy he insisted upon returning the egg that a neighbor’s hen daily laid on the Cleveland side of the fence. Thus he early began to give proof of the honesty that marked him as a man and a future President of the United States. Faithfulness to high principles in such little things leads to honesty in matters of greater importance.
6945 Lincoln’s Integrity
When he was 24 years old, Abraham Lincoln served as the postmaster of New Salem, Illinois, for which he was paid an annual salary of $55.70.
Even then, 24 years before he entered the White House, the rail-splitter was showing the character that earned him the title of “Honest Abe.”
The New Salem post office was closed in 1836, but it was several years before an agent arrived from Washington to settle accounts with ex-postmaster Lincoln, who was a struggling lawyer not doing too well.
The agent informed him that there was $17 due the government. Lincoln crossed the room, opened an old truck and took out a yellowed cotton rag bound with string.
Untying it, he spread out the cloth and there was the $17. He had been holding it untouched for all the years. “I never use any man’s money but my own,” he said.
6946 Telling The Robbers
When the father of the great Emmanuel Kant was an old man he made a perilous journey through the forests of Poland to his native country of Silesia. On the way he encountered a band of robbers who demanded all his valuables, finally asking: “Have you given us all?” and only letting him go when he answered, “All.” When safely out of their sight his hand touched something hard in the hem of his robe. It was his gold, sewn there for safety and quite forgotten by him in his fear and confusion.
At once he hurried back to find the robbers, and having found them, he said meekly: “I have told you what was not true; it was unintentional. I was too terrified to think. Here, take the gold in my robes.” Then to the old man’s astonishment nobody offered to take his gold. Presently one went and brought back his purse. Another restored his book of prayer, while still another led his horse toward him and helped him to mount. They then unitedly entreated his blessing, and watched him slowly ride away. Goodness had triumphed over evil.
—J. A. Clark
6947 Lindbergh On Truth
In my youth, science was more important to me than either man or God. I worshipped science. Its advance had surpassed man’s wildest dreams. It took many years for me to discover that science, with all its brilliance, lights only a middle chapter of creation.
I saw the aircraft I love destroying the civilization I expected it to save. Now I understand that spiritual truth is more essential to a nation than the mortar in its cities’ walls. For when the actions of a people are undergirded by spiritual truths, there is safety. When spiritual truths are rejected, it is only a matter of time before civilization will collapse.
We must understand spiritual truths and apply them to our modern life. We must draw strength from the almost forgotten virtues of simplicity, humility, contemplation and prayer. It requires a dedication beyond science, beyond self, but the rewards are great and it is our only hope.
—Charles Lindbergh
6948 Epigram On Truth
• When in doubt, tell the truth.
—Mark Twain
• To fool the world, tell the truth.
—Bismarck
• Nobody ever got hurt on the corners of a square deal.
• The trouble with stretching the truth is that it’s apt to snap back.
—Saturday Evening Post
• Half a fact is a whole falsehood.
—Old Proverb
• Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.
—Bernard M. Baruch
• Jumping at conclusions is not half a good exercise as digging for facts.
—Lutheran Digest
• Time is precious, but truth is more precious than time.
—Benjamin Disraeli
• Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
—Aldous Huxley
• It’s easier to believe a lie that one has heard a thousand times than to believe a fact that no one has heard before.
—Grit
• “The portrait is like me, but too good-looking,” was the criticism once made to an artist, which called forth the significant reply. “It is the truth, lovingly told.”
—Spencer Pearsall
• There are only two ways: one is right and the other is wrong. About is always wrong. Don’t tell me it’s about right. If it’s only about right, then it’s wrong. If you come to a stream five feet wide and jump four-and-a-half feet you fall in and get drowned. You might just as well have tumbled in from the other side and saved yourself the exertion of the jump.
See also: Honesty ; Integrity ; II Thess. 2:11.