The smallest atom of truth represents some man's bitter toil and agony; for every ponderable chunk of it there is a brave truth-seeker's grave upon some lonely ash-dump and a soul roasting in hell.
Interpretation
Truth often comes at a significant cost, showcasing the struggle of those who seek it.
This quote by H. L. Mencken highlights the profound sacrifices made by individuals who dedicate their lives to uncovering truth. It suggests that each fragment of truth carries with it the weight of human suffering and relentless pursuit, implying that the journey to discover truth can be fraught with immense challenges and personal tolls.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of integrity in journalism, one might use this quote to emphasize the sacrifices journalists make.
I know a good many men of great learning-that is, men born with an extraordinary eagerness and capacity to acquire knowledge. One and all, they tell me that they can't recall learning anything of any value in school. All that schoolmasters managed to accomplish with them was to test and determine the amount of knowledge that they had already acquired independently-and not infrequently the determination was made clumsily and inaccurately.
It takes a long while for a naturally trustful person to reconcile himself to the idea that after all God will not help him
It is the theory of all modern civilized governments that they protect and foster the liberty of the citizen; it is the practice of all of them to limit its exercise, and sometimes very narrowly.
The central belief of every moron is that he is the victim of a mysterious conspiracy against his common rights and true deserts.
The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy.
It is my conviction that no normal man ever fell in love, within the ordinary meaning of the term, after the age of thirty.
Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.
I worked in television; I'm the Failed Pilot Queen, I've done so many television shows, pilots, theater ... when you do it for so long, I'm telling you, you get to the point where it becomes varied because you take what's available for a number of reasons. It's just an occupational hazard.
Ignorance is not a simple lack of knowledge but an active aversion to knowledge, the refusal to know, issuing from cowardice, pride, or laziness of mind.
Most people consider me an optimist because I laughingly state that I would take my last two dollars and buy a money belt.
It is commonly seene by experience, that excellent memories do rather accompany weake judgements.
The smallest minds and the selfishest souls and the cowardliest hearts that God makes.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.