What therefore is truth? A mobile army of metaphors…
““What therefore is truth? A mobile army of metaphors, metonymies, anthropomorphisms: in short a sum of human relations which became poetically and rhetorically intensified, metamorphosed, adorned, and after long usage seem to a notion fixed, canonic, and binding; truths are illusions of which one has forgotten that they are illusions; worn-out metaphors which have become powerless to affect the senses; coins which have their obverse effaced and now are no longer of account as coins but merely as metal.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Truth is constructed from metaphorical language that becomes fixed, losing its original power and becoming an illusion.
In simple terms: Truth is built from worn‑out metaphors that feel solid but are actually empty.
Key Takeaway
Question the assumptions behind accepted “truths”.
Themes
philosophy
language
truth
illusion
metaphor
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- media analysis
- personal belief systems
- legal arguments
Key Concepts
construction of meaning
semantic decay
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What “truths” in your life feel like outdated metaphors?
- How do you distinguish useful conventions from limiting illusions?
A Different Perspective
Truths can be useful even if they are metaphorical, so discarding them entirely may hinder communication.