Civilization is first of all a moral thing. Without truth, respect for duty, love of neighbor, and virtue, everything is destroyed. The morality of a society is alone the basis of civilization.
Henri Frederic AmielRead
Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Truth can be harmed not just by lies, but also by the failure to speak out.
This quote suggests that truth is not solely compromised by dishonest statements; silence in the face of injustice or wrongdoing can also distort and obscure the truth. It highlights the moral responsibility to voice concerns and stand up for what is right, indicating that inaction can be as damaging as spreading falsehoods.
Themes
TruthSilenceInjusticeVoiceResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on ethics in a workplace, this quote could emphasize the importance of speaking up against unethical practices.
More from Henri Frederic Amiel
All quotes →Man never knows what he wants; he aspires to penetrate mysteries and as soon as he has, wants to re-establish them. Ignorance irritates him and knowledge cloys.
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True love is that which ennobles the personality, fortifies the heart, and sanctifies the existence.
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It is by teaching that we teach ourselves, by relating that we observe, by affirming that we examine, by showing that we look, by writing that we think, by pumping that we draw water into the well.
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A man must be able to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied; he must know how to disengage what is essential from the detail in which it is enwrapped, for everything cannot be equally considered; in a word, he must be able to simplify his duties, his business and his life.
Henri Frederic AmielRead
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