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Great Truth Quotes

Paradox, depth, and silence

These great truth quotes open with the paradox that a great truth's opposite can be just as true, a theme that runs through much depth-focused reflection.

In a sense, there's a great truth to that, but, also I was a great reader.

Quotes by A. E. van Vogt

A great truth is a truth whose opposite is also a truth.

Thomas Mann

The water in a vessel is sparkling; the water in the sea is dark. The small truth has words which are clear; the great truth has great silence.

Rabindranath Tagore

Both need each other: The agnostic cannot be content to not know, but must be in search of the great truth of faith; the Catholic cannot be content to have faith, but must be in search of God all the...

Quotes by Pope Benedict XVI

Clarity Quotes

I was a very good baseball and football player, but my father always told me I was much more interested in how I looked playing baseball or football than in actually playing. There's great truth in that.

Quotes by John Malkovich

We have a tendency to think everyone's idiotic and everyone's only doing something idiotic, and the world is controlled by a not-so-secret group of morons. There's great truth in that, I suppose, but then it's also not true.

Quotes by John Malkovich

Stephen Sondheim told me that Oscar Hammerstein believed everything that he wrote. So there's great truth in the songs, and that's what was so wonderful to find.

Quotes by Bernadette Peters

Frequently Asked Questions

What paradox do these great truth quotes explore?
The opening idea is that a great truth's opposite can also be true, unlike a small truth, which only has one correct side.
Is there a poetic take on great truth?
Yes, one contrasts sparkling water in a vessel with the darker sea, saying small truths have clear words while great truths carry great silence.
Do any quotes apply this idea to personal life?
Yes, one reflects on caring more about how one looked playing sports than about actually playing well, calling that a great truth about vanity.
Is the tone of this collection mostly serious?
It leans thoughtful and reflective, though one quote adds a wry note about the world being run by a not-so-secret group of fools.
Where can I find related philosophical quotes?
Try the Depth quotes page for more reflective material.

Others contrast small, clear truths with the great silence of larger ones, and admit there's real honesty even in half-serious claims about human folly.