There always comes a time in history when the person who dares to say that 2+2=4 is punished by death. And the issue is not what reward or what punishment will be the outcome of that reasoning. The issue is simply whether or not 2+2=4.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Truth and reason can be dangerous in oppressive times, where even stating obvious facts leads to severe punishment. The core issue is the integrity of truth itself, not the consequences of speaking it.
- In plain terms
- Speaking plain truth can get you killed in dark times, but the truth remains true regardless of what happens to you.
- What can you take from it?
- Stand by objective truth even when it puts you at risk.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is silence necessary?
- What is the cost of truth?
Another view
Sometimes survival requires silence, making absolute truth-telling impractical.
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