Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The word 'ideals' masks lies; we should call them what they are.
In plain terms
Ideals are often just lies.
What can you take from it?
Scrutinize lofty concepts for truth.

Where it applies

  • political rhetoric
  • personal belief systems

Putting it to work

  • question grand statements
  • seek concrete evidence

Questions to consider

  • When do ideals become useful?
  • How can you differentiate idealism from deception?

Another view

Not all ideals are false; some inspire positive action.

More from Henrik Ibsen

  1. A marriage based on full confidence, based on complete and unqualified frankness on both sides; they are not keeping anything back; there's no deception undern…

    Permalink to quote #26
  2. Tar De livslognen fra et gennemsnitsmenneske, sa tar De lykken fra ham med det samme.

    Permalink to quote #28
  3. Always do that, wild ducks do. They shoot to the bottom as deep as they can get, sir - and bite themselves fast in the tangle and seaweed - and all the devil's…

    Permalink to quote #25

Related quotes

  1. There are three kinds of lies - Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

    Mark TwainMark Twain quote #203
  2. Que sais-je?

    Michel de MontaigneMichel de Montaigne quote #1
  3. Please don't lie to me, unless you're absolutely sure I'll never find out the truth.

    Ashleigh BrilliantAshleigh Brilliant quote #1