Truth

“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”—John 8:32.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”—John 14:6.

Truth is “conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies. Truth is the true state of facts or things. The duty of a court of justice is to discover the truth. Witnesses are sworn to declare the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Truth is conformity of words to thoughts, is called moral truth. Truth is veracity; purity from falsehood; practice of speaking truth; habitual disposition to speak truth.”
  Truth is “correct opinion; fidelity; constancy; honesty; virtue; exactness; conformity to rule; the real fact of just principle; real state of things. There are innumerable truths with which we are not acquainted. Truth is sincerity. The truth of God is his veracity and faithfulness (Psalm 71:22), or his revealed will (‘I have walked in thy truth’—Psalm 26:3). Jesus Christ is called the truth (John 14). Truth is sometimes used by way of concession (‘She said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table’ Matthew 15:27). To do truth is to practice what God commands (John 3).”—Webster’s American Dictionary
  Truth as “conformity with fact, agreement with reality, accuracy, correctness, verity of a statement or thought, genuineness, conduct following the divine standard, spirituality of life and behavior, that which is true, real, or actual in a general or abstract sense, reality, specifically in religious use, spiritual reality as the subject of revelation or object of faith.”—The Oxford English Dictionary.


“God is all truth, the only truth there is.”—Edna Lister


Truth (ἀλήθεια, alétheia), is not merely truth as spoken, but truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, and divine truth as revealed to man, often called straightforwardness. Honesty speaks nothing but the truth.

To the Elect on the Via Christa, truth is what is absolutely real because truth is an absolute and abstract principle, a law of being and of doing. Truth is an absolute ultimate principle, an unalterable and permanent fact; God is truth. Truth, as a law of being, requires that you be truth to do what is true. Truth, as a law of doing, requires that you think, choose, speak, act, and live according to truth.








Edna Lister on Truth

No one can take truth from you, and this is the truth: Your body is made of indivisible, indestructible spiritual substance. Consciousness has a foundation in substance. A photon of light is the carrier wave of thought. Your means of escape is always nearby when you use truth to conquer self. To live what you know is truth is your responsibility. Then comes the testing, when you must stand on the truth you know, and act according to it, no matter what.—Edna Lister, January 16, 1933.


To hold a group in stability, one must know the truth, declare it, and stand upon it steadfastly.—Edna Lister, January 31, 1933.


A negative thought is an adulterated truth.—Edna Lister, Recognizing Your Good, April 22, 1934.


God is all truth, the only truth there is. Truth is often hard to grasp and understand because the world’s glamour draws your attention away from it.—Edna Lister, Faith Reconsidered, March 31, 1935.


The truth of experience and the truth of expression are truths of being, and both exist.—Edna Lister, Philosophy, January 27, 1936.


Humility is to see the truth in self. Love is the ability to see the truth in others. Finally, you see truth itself, clearly. Nothing can stop truth once the time arrives for its birth. Yet, nothing can “bring it to pass” if it is not the right time.—Edna Lister, Your Asset Column, February 16, 1936.


You may not demand proof of anyone for anything. Trying to disprove anything is impossible, a waste of time and effort. Under natural law, any falsehood will disprove itself. Truth is demonstrable, but a lie cannot be proven. For example, transmigration1 of souls is a fiction, a falsification of reality. The soul is capable only of transformation away from or back into its original state as primary substance. You return to your original state through your soul’s will, which you express as determination.


Life is a treasure hunt. You are searching for the matchless treasure of God’s good. It is here, but you have to know how to look for it. You need to learn the eternal universal code, God’s law, and abide by that law. Anything else is living by selfish desires and willfulness. God’s will is the law, and law must be the code of your conduct. Eternity is the length of time your soul credits will endure, unless you squander them unwisely. You must have vision beyond the horizon in order to ascend to God.

To apply any truth requires persistence and determination, which represents piping the motive power of your will to the goal. Your determination dictates the flow rate in the outer pipeline, but any accumulation of blockage in the stream of will ensures a blowout. Apply your will to your own surrender, not to the other fellow.

Light brings together people who are in harmony with the idea to form a group of true seekers after Light. The attitudes of an open mind are to accept the possibility of truth, devotion to truth, to follow God, the Master and the Bible.—Edna Lister, January 21, 1940.


Truth lives in Light forever. Light is the only truth and contains all truth. Only truth as Light endures as all else falls of its own weight. Light has no weight, and truth has no heaviness. Truth knows and creates its own. Truth carries itself, because Light can only lift, it cannot fall or fail.—Edna Lister, June 26, 1940.


Kingdoms and principalities may pass, and those who head them, but truth shall stand forever. Truth is a living monument, which nothing of earth may ever disturb. Those who are foolish to use the not-truth for any reason whatever shall eventually find themselves with no sure footing over some quicksand or abyss.

The world is forever trying to make truth out a liar, forever seeking to destroy truth. All the world may do is to hang a garment of darkness around truth for a time. Yet in due season, the weather of gales and storms from the world rot and cut down the covering, and truth stands revealed in the Light once more.

What is truth? Your conception of truth must be that of a universal truth, individually held. Once you admit it, you are solemnly obliged to live truth, not merely to talk it but to live it. Truth is your highest present concept in mind of action. It is a standard of thinking, feeling, picturing, speaking, and acting in the moment. It must be an ever-ascending concept, or retrogression will set in when a bulwark of truth is your greatest need.

Truth is your idea of the Christ-like thing to be, the Christ-like thing to do, the Christ-like thing to say. Make your concept of truth so great that you shall be a living, growing, climbing ensample of the Christ life.—Edna Lister, January 29, 1941.


No truth abides in some people. All truth is a lie to others. Truth is truth once to some, and a lie another time to a few. All is truth to those who live steadfastly under God’s laws of Light, and the Father makes it so. Never believe the lies, but stand on truth for truth’s sake always.—Edna Lister, February 25, 1941.


“Unquenchable Love is that degree of vision that can see no darkness anytime, anywhere or in any thing and especially no darkness ever in anyone.” Use this as your statement of truth’s full expression.—Edna Lister, May 29, 1941.


Truth is a two-edged sword that can cut both hearer and speaker. The soul on earth cannot learn its lessons unless truth cuts the darkness from Light. You must stand in the Light to do this.—Edna Lister, October 21, 1941.


You can dull or blacken Light if you spare the truth. It is no good to “spare the rod” and let the child grow into disobedience and the softness of self-satisfaction. Yet you must speak truth only under the command of law, lest the force of so doing reacts on you.—Edna Lister, October 21, 1941.


Work stands according to the foundation on which people have built it. If truth can tear the work down, it was not truth, for truth builds truth and cannot destroy itself. If lies founded the structure, truth blows it away. Exalt truth, justify honor and stand nobly, serenely on truth, steadfastly to establish truth and draw all others from the deep shadows in the vale of illusion. As you stop fighting and accept truth, your Oversoul awakens, but the slightest self-centeredness or earthy consciousness can put your Oversoul to sleep again.—Edna Lister, March 3, 1942.


“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”—Philippians 4:8. Ponder the truth constantly, for in so doing you become accustomed to higher and ever clearer degrees of the truth universal and absolute.—Edna Lister, March 7, 1942.


You cannot force anyone to accept truth. Yet you must maintain an open channel to truth, and accept it yourself. To accept truth is to see truth and to understand its application to you.—Edna Lister, The Great Challenge, March 8, 1942.


Girding your loins with truth creates a protective sphere of Light around you.—Edna Lister, The Two-Edged Sword, April 19, 1942.


Truth always stands the test of time. Anything that is not truth will fall of its own weight.—Edna Lister, The Two-Edged Sword, April 19, 1942.


We obey laws of absolute truth, not relative truth. Truth is always and forever truth. No motive advanced, no matter how unselfish it sounds, no selfish sophistry offered by the subconscious mind or appetitive soul can change the facts of truth.—Edna Lister, July 19, 1945.


Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” Jesus answered, “He who is of the truth, recognizes the truth.” If you dwell upon truth, because you must become and be the truth. It is not enough merely to know truth, you must become the truth. Becoming truth is becoming a living ensample like unto Christ.—Edna Lister, Fully Awakening to Understanding, October 27, 1946.


Rub truth into your soul every hour on the hour, like an old-fashioned liniment, or you forget where you are and where you are going.—Edna Lister, Jesus’ Prayer of the Ages, April 27, 1947.


You are truth and cannot quit being an expression of the principle of truth. All the life in you is truth. The substance of your body is truth. When you are of truth, you have the love of God, and love Him with a mighty love.—Edna Lister, An Encompassing Faith, May 4, 1947.


To ascend from belief to comprehension, you move through five stages: 1) You hear truth, 2) talk about truth, 3) think about truth, 4) then begin to do all that truth requires. From doing, you 5) become truth. You cannot become truth without taking these five steps. No one can be truth without doing truth.—Edna Lister, The First Days, June 17, 1951.


Truth is Light and the Power of the living God.—Edna Lister, Rewards for Service, July 15, 1951.


Your body is of this world as substance, but not necessarily subject to the truth of appearances.—Edna Lister, Prove Me Now, October 28, 1951.


If you live by the truth of appearances, you will always be apprehensive or fearful about the future. If you ascend in prayer to the truth of reality, you will apprehend that truth on your way up.—Edna Lister, The Golden Chalice, September 21, 1952.


“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”—Exodus 20:14. The greatest disobedience to the law on adultery is to hide the truth from yourself, or to adulterate the truth with self. You fool only yourself unless you live as Light on the highest level, using no excuses, modifications, justifications or explanations to adulterate truth.—Edna Lister, Now Is the High Time, December 6, 1953.


Always be consciously positive of truth, wisely and with discrimination. Declare it constantly as you work silently.—Edna Lister, June 2, 1955.


It is better to have a bit of truth and live it than to have much knowledge but no truth.—Edna Lister, Divine Mathematics, August 28, 1955.


There is a big difference between knowing a truth and knowing the truth. Only a bit of truth streamed through the atomic bomb. The whole truth is in the Maker of the atom itself. A truth can heal only partially, yet the truth makes me whole. A truth lasts temporarily, yet the truth is an eternal miracle. You are truth when and as you express it. God as you knows that God is invincible, unchangeable, always working. Truth is God in action through you, as principle.—Edna Lister, Truth, Your Plan, October 21, 1956.


Every great teacher who has ever destroyed some old interpretation of truth has paid a debt of force, often dying for it, though he receives credit for his faith and motive in unveiling new truth.—Edna Lister, The Glory, Your Ascension, November 11, 1956.


Truth is something you hear, accept and become. You cannot try to believe in the truth and succeed. “I’ll try” is the subconscious self crying, “Leave me alone! I want to play a while longer.” You create so many roadblocks when you don’t hear, accept, and become law.—Edna Lister, May 9, 1957.


Reincarnation is a truth that each must prove for himself. You may not accept it from our Bible text, but he who is of the truth never doubts. Say to the challenger, “I don’t need to prove reincarnation; you need to disprove it. It’s all right if it isn’t there for you. You prove your truth. I’ll prove mine to myself. Yours has brought you to where you are — mine takes me to my goal.”—Edna Lister, May 9, 1957.


Every truth has at least 144 interpretations.—Edna Lister, June 6, 1957.


Empirical philosophy deals with relations in the outer world. Everything came from Light, so everything out here must have truth in it, and you must pull the husks away as you analyze.—Edna Lister, May 12, 1958.


You stand on truth and unity. If you are unconscious of the whole, you will feel a sense of separation, which is false.—Edna Lister, September 4, 1958.


Stand as the law on eternal truth. Your steadfastness proves a truth.—Edna Lister, October 9, 1958.


Truth forever stands the test of time.—Edna Lister, December 5, 1958.


Light will fulfill every declaration you make, true or untrue. You pay for every untruth.—Edna Lister, May 14, 1959.


Truth is a genuine standard of principles modified into laws and rules for daily use. Facts and reality must back your standard of truth, which may not be haphazard.—Edna Lister, I Am the Truth, October 11, 1959.


A strong wind of truth blows up dust. Your job is to vacuum it in love.—Edna Lister, December 8, 1960.


He who is of the truth knows the truth.—Edna Lister, November 30, 1960.


It’s a shame to be sure you have the only way of truth, because that attitude diminishes the credits you could earn.—Edna Lister, October 9, 1961.


Truth is not negative in any way, shape or form. You may not be negative if you follow the Father and Jesus the Christ.—Edna Lister, January 4, 1962.


Evil, making light of its own evil, blinds itself to truth.—Edna Lister, October 29, 1964.


Delicately plant seeds of truth in others’ minds, then declare that God impresses their consciousness with the truth. Only God can harvest.—Edna Lister, November 2, 1964.


Truth’s corner is sharp, and you must turn it completely to take a new direction.—Edna Lister, May 24, 1967.


When your will and desires are unified into one, you will know truth and it will make you free.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.


1^ Transmigration, known in the philosophy of Pythagoras as metempsychosis (μετεμψύχωσις), refers to the soul’s movement at the death of one body into another, human to animal or animal to human. Transmigration differs starkly from reincarnation, the doctrine of many lives, which refers to the movement of the soul of man at the death of its human body to another human body following a period of assimilation of experience and memory.

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New Testament on Truth

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.—John 14:6

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.—John 18:37

To do truth is to practice what God commands.—John 3:

He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.—John 3:21

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.—John 4:24

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.—John 8:32

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.—John 14:6

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.—John 17:17

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.—John 8:32

When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.—John 16:13

Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.—John 17:17

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. —John 18:37-38

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.—Ephesians 6:14

Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.—1 John 3:18

It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.—1 John 5:6

[Love] rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.—1 Corinthians 13:6

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.—2 Timothy 2:15

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Old Testament on Truth

I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.—Deuteronomy 32:3-4

Fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.—1 Samuel 12:24

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.—Psalm 25:10

For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.—Psalm 33:4

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.—Psalm 119:142

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.—Psalms 145:18

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.—Proverbs 3:3-4

He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.—Proverbs 12:17

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.—Proverbs 12:22

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.—Proverbs 16:6

Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.—Proverbs 16:13

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Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord will fight for you.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 4:28

Blame not before you have examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 11:7

Come to hate hypocrisy and the evil thought; for it is the thought that gives birth to hypocrisy; hypocrisy is far from truth.—The Apocryphon of James, Codex I, 2

The gospel of truth is joy for those who have received from the Father of truth the grace of knowing Him, through the power of the Word.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2.

[By reason of ignorance], error became powerful; it worked on its own matter foolishly, not having known the truth.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

[Ignorance] set about with a creation, preparing with power and beauty the substitute for the truth.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

The established truth is immutable, imperturbable, perfect in beauty.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

The hidden mystery, Jesus, the Christ, enlightened those who were in darkness through oblivion. He enlightened them; he showed (them) a way; and the way is the truth which he taught them.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

Truth appeared; all its emanations knew it; they greeted the Father in truth with a perfect power that joins them with the Father.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

Speak of the truth with those who search for it, and (of) knowledge to those who have committed sin in their error. Make firm the foot of those who have stumbled, and stretch out your hands to those who are ill.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

They do not go down to Hades, nor have they envy nor groaning nor death within them, but (rather) they rest in Him who is at rest, not striving nor being twisted around the truth. But they themselves are the truth; and the Father is within them, and they are in the Father, being perfect, being undivided in the truly good one, being in no way deficient in anything, but they are set at rest, refreshed in the Spirit.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

It is fitting to be concerned at all times with the Father of the all, and the true brothers, those upon whom the love of the Father is poured out, and in whose midst there is no lack of Him. They appear in truth, since they exist in true and eternal life, and speak of the Light which is perfect, and filled with the seed of the Father, and which is in His heart, while his Spirit rejoices in it and glorifies the one in whom it existed, because He is good. And His children are perfect and worthy of His name, for He is the Father; it is children of this kind that He loves.—The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

The Son of God was Son of Man; he embraced them both, possessing the humanity and the divinity, so that on the one hand he might vanquish death through his being Son of God, and that on the other through the Son of Man the restoration to the wholeness might occur; because he was originally from above, a seed of Truth, before this structure had come into being. Treatise on the Resurrection, Codex I, 4

He who has believed in the truth has found life, and is in danger of dying, for he is alive.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3.

Truth brought names into existence in the world for our sakes, because it is not possible to learn it (truth) without these names.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

Truth is one single thing; it is many things.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

Truth, which existed since the beginning, is sown everywhere; many see it being sown, but few see it being reaped.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

Truth did not come into the world naked, but it came in types and images. The world will not receive truth in any other way.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

There is a rebirth and an image of rebirth. It is certainly necessary to be born again through the image of Resurrection. The image must rise again through the image. The bridal chamber and the image must enter through the image into the truth: this is the restoration. This power the apostles called "the right and the left." For this person is no longer a Christian but a Christ.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

This world is a corpse-eater. All the things eaten in it themselves die also. Truth is a life-eater. Therefore no one nourished by truth will die.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

He who has knowledge of the truth is a free man, but the free man does not sin, for “He who sins is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). Truth is the mother, knowledge the father.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

Those who think that sinning does not apply to them are called “free” by the world. Knowledge of the truth merely makes such people arrogant, which is what the words, “it makes them free” mean. It even gives them a sense of superiority over the whole world.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

Truth is like ignorance: while it is hidden, it rests in itself, but when it is revealed and is recognized, it is praised, inasmuch as it is stronger than ignorance and error. It gives freedom.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

The Word said, “If you know the truth, the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). Ignorance is a slave. Knowledge is freedom. If we know the truth, we shall find the fruits of the truth within us. If we are joined to it, it will bring our fulfillment.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

Contrast the manifest things of truth: they are weak and despised, while the hidden things are strong and held in high regard. The mysteries of truth are revealed, though in type and image. The bridal chamber, however, remains hidden. It is the Holy in the Holy.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

If some belong to the order of the priesthood, they will be able to go within the veil with the high priest. For this reason, the veil was not rent at the top only, since it would have been open only to those above; nor was it rent at the bottom only, since it would have been revealed only to those below. But it was rent from the top to bottom. Those above opened to us the things below, in order that we may go in to the secret of the truth. This truly is what is held in high regard, (and) what is strong! But we shall go in there by means of lowly types and forms of weakness. They are lowly indeed when compared with the perfect glory.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

There is glory which surpasses glory. There is power which surpasses power. Therefore, the perfect things have opened to us, together with the hidden things of truth. The holies of the holies were revealed, and the bridal chamber invited us in.—Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

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On Love of Truth

By Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781), from ‘Eine Duplik’

I know not whether it be a duty to offer up fortune and life to the truth: certainly the courage and resolution necessary to such a sacrifice are not gifts which we can bestow upon ourselves. But I know it is a duty, if one undertake to teach the truth, to teach the whole of it or none at all, to teach it clearly and roundly, without enigmas or reserves, and with perfect confidence in its efficacy and utility; and the gifts required for such a decision are in our power. Whoever will not acquire these, or when acquired will not use them, shows that he has a very poor opinion of the human intellect; and he deserves to lose the confidence of his hearers, who, while he frees them from some gross errors, yet withholds the entire truth, and thinks to satisfy them by a compromise with falsehood. For the greater the error, the shorter and straighter the way to the truth. On the other hand, subtle error can prevent our recognition of its nature, and forever blind us to the truth.

The man who is faithless to Truth in threatening dangers, may yet love her much; and Truth forgives him his infidelity for the sake of his love. But whosoever thinks of prostituting Truth under all sorts of masks and rouge, may indeed be her pimp, but he has never been her lover.

Not the truth of which any one is, or supposes himself to be, possessed, but the upright endeavor he has made to arrive at truth, makes the worth of the man. For not by the possession but by the pursuit of truth are his powers expanded, wherein alone his ever-growing perfection consists. Possession makes us easy, indolent, proud.

If God held all truth shut in his right hand, and in his left nothing but the ever-restless search after truth, although with the condition of for ever and ever erring, and should say to me, “Choose!” I should bow humbly to his left hand and say, “Father, give! pure truth is for Thee alone!”

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884—1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


Etymology of truth: Middle English trewthe, "loyalty," from Old English treowth, "firm, true."

Truth is an absolute principle.
Truth is an abstract principle.
Truth is a law of being.
Truth is a law of doing.


Quote

‘Your truth’ and ‘my truth’ do not exist; God is the only whole truth, which you comprehend according to your degree of spiritual maturity.—Linda Mihalic


On Truth
Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise
From outward things, whate’er you may believe.
There is an inmost centre in us all,
Where truth abides in fulness; and around,
Wall upon wall, the gross flesh hems it in,
This perfect, clear perception—which is truth.
A baffling and perverting carnal mesh
Binds it, and makes all error: and to know
Rather consists in opening out a way
Whence the imprisoned splendour may escape,
Than in effecting entry for a light
Supposed to be without.
—Robert Browning

Truth and Error
‘Twixt truth and error, there’s this difference known;
Error is fruitful, truth is only one.
—Robert Herrick

Search for nothing any more,
nothing except truth.
Be very still, and try and get at the truth.
And the first question to ask yourself is:
How great a liar am I?—D. H. Lawrence

Give me truths,
For I am weary of the surfaces,
And die of inanition.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson


References

Browning, Robert. Paracelsus. New York: Baker & Taylor, 1911, p. 88.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Blight," The Complete Works, Volume IX. Poems. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1904.

Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, 2024.

Herrick, Robert. The Hesperides and Noble Numbers, No. 1031. Alfred Pollard, ed. London: Lawrence & Bullen, Ltd.; New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1898, p. 144.

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).

Lawrence, D.H. The Complete Poems. New York: Penguin Books, 1993, p. 661.

Lessing. Gotthold Ephraim. "On Love of Truth," Library of the World’s Best Literature. C.D. Warner, et al., comp. New York: Warner Library Co., 1917.

The Nag Hammadi Library. James M. Robinson, editor. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1981.

The Oxford English Dictionary: Compact Ed. 2 vols. Oxford University Press, 1971.

Webster’s American Dictionary. New York: S. Converse, 1828.


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