Nowhere has truth such a short life as in Sicily; a fact…
“Nowhere has truth such a short life as in Sicily; a fact has scarcely happened five minutes before its genuine kernel has vanished, been camouflaged, embellished, disfigured, squashed, annihilated by imagination and self interest; shame, fear, generosity, malice, opportunism, charity, all the passions, good as well as evil, fling themselves onto the fact and tear it to pieces; very soon it has vanished altogether.”
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 quickly distorted by personal biases and emotions, leading to its disappearance or alteration.
In simple terms: Emotions and self‑interest warp facts.
Key Takeaway
Question facts critically before accepting them.
Themes
truth
perception
bias
emotion
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- news reporting
- social media
- legal testimony
- historical research
Key Concepts
cognitive distortion
media influence
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- What biases most often color your view of facts?
- How can you protect truth from distortion?
A Different Perspective
Even with bias, some facts persist if corroborated by multiple sources.