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Everything possible to be believed is an image of truth' and the words did pierce him, and he understood them, though he could not have put in words what it was he understood. Everything possible to be believed is an image of truth. If it feels true to me, then there is something true in it, even if it isn't all true. And if I study it out in my mind, then maybe I can find what parts of it are true, and what parts are false, and - and Alvin realized something else. That all his arguments with thrower came down to this : that if something just plain didn't make sense to Alvin, he didn't believe it, and no amount of quoting from the bible would convince him. Now Taleswapper was telling him that he was right to refuse to believe things that make no sense 'Taleswapper, does that mean that what I don't believe can't be true? 'Truth can never be told as to be understood, and not be believed

Orson Scott Card#509

TruthBeliefFaithReasonReasoning

About this quote

What does it mean?
Belief often starts with a feeling of truth, which must then be examined to separate fact from fiction.
In plain terms
If something feels true, it has some truth, but you must study it to find the parts.
What can you take from it?
Trust your intuition but verify it with reason.

Where it applies

  • philosophical debate
  • religious study
  • critical thinking

Putting it to work

  • study what you believe
  • test your intuitions

Questions to consider

  • What do you believe without proof?
  • How do you test your truths?

Another view

Some truths are not immediately sensible or verifiable by human logic.

More from Orson Scott Card

  1. Sunday morning, he decided, is designed to let sinners have a sample of the first day of eternity in hell

    Permalink to quote #508
  2. To my way of thinking, a duel is just two murderers who agree to take turns trying to kill each other

    Permalink to quote #510
  3. Hiding from your enemy is the same as letting him win

    Permalink to quote #507

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