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We don't want anything from the government but that furtive little fellow called the truth - which, by the way, they'll never give you - which you have to go out and find by talking to people.
Morley Safer
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The truth is elusive and must be sought actively, rather than passively waiting for it to be provided by authorities.

In this quote, Morley Safer emphasizes the importance of seeking the truth through personal initiative and interaction with others, rather than relying solely on governmental institutions for information. It suggests that the truth is often obscured and requires effort to uncover, highlighting the necessity for individuals to engage in dialogue and inquiry to discern reality.

Themes

TruthGovernmentSeekInformationDialogue

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of investigative journalism.

More from Morley Safer

Reality TV is sleazy, it is manipulative. It is as momentary as anything in popular culture.
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Some people, you have to grit your teeth in order to stay in the same room as them, but you get on and ask the questions you assume most of the people watching want to ask.
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So much crap passes as information that not only does the audience sometimes miss the distinction between news and crap, the editors sometimes miss the distinction.
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