The need for truth is not constant; no more than is the need for repose. An idea which is a distortion may have a greater intellectual thrust than the truth; it may better serve the needs of the spirit, which vary. The truth is balance, but the opposite of truth, which is unbalance, may not be a lie.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Sontag says we do not always need truth or rest, and sometimes distorted ideas serve the spirit better than balance or reality.
- In plain terms
- Distorted ideas can sometimes serve us better than pure truth or balance.
- What can you take from it?
- Accept that balance and truth are not always what we need most.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When do you need fiction over truth?
- Is balance always best?
Another view
This risks validating harmful distortions if not carefully applied.
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