To speak the truth is the most difficult of all arts, for in its "pure" form, not connected with the interests of individuals, groups, classes, or nations, truth is almost completely unsuitable for use by the Philistine and is unacceptable to him.
Interpretation
Speaking the truth is challenging because it often conflicts with personal and societal interests.
Maxim Gorky's quote highlights the inherent difficulty in speaking the truth, as it typically is not aligned with the desires of individuals or groups. In its purest form, truth can be seen as unpalatable to those who prioritize their own interests over an objective reality, illustrating the complex relationship between honesty and societal acceptance.
In practice
During a speech on the importance of integrity in journalism.
If it is true that only misfortune can awaken a man's soul, it is a bitter truth, one that is hard to hear and accept, and it is only natural that many people deny it and say it is better for a man to live on in a trance than to wake up to torture.
What I'd like is to meet a man I could take off my hat to and say: "Thank you for having got born, and the longer you live the better.
A good man can be stupid and still be good. But a bad man must have brains.
Be good, be kind, be humane, and charitable; love your fellows; console the afflicted; pardon those who have done you wrong.
Truth doesn't always heal a wounded soul.
Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is.
Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.
Goodness is achieved not in a vacuum, but in the company of other men, attended by love.
It's funny, our beauty standard has become harder and tougher because we live in a tough age. I don't think anyone wants to walk down the street and feel vulnerable. You want to walk down the street and feel like you're in control.
And out of good still to find means of evil.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
We never change. Neither our socks nor our masters nor our opinions, or we're so slow about it that it's no use. We were born loyal and that's what killed us! Soldiers free of charge, heroes for everyone else, talking monkeys, tortured words, we are the minions of King Misery...It's not a life.
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