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For the truth is a terrible thing. You dabble your foot in…

“For the truth is a terrible thing. You dabble your foot in it and it is nothing. But you walk a little farther and you feel it pull you like an undertow or a whirlpool. First there is the slow pull so steady and gradual you scarcely notice it, then the acceleration, then the dizzy whirl and plunge…” quote by Robert Penn Warren
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““For the truth is a terrible thing. You dabble your foot in it and it is nothing. But you walk a little farther and you feel it pull you like an undertow or a whirlpool. First there is the slow pull so steady and gradual you scarcely notice it, then the acceleration, then the dizzy whirl and plunge into darkness. For there is a blackness of truth, too. They say it is a terrible thing to fall into the Grace of God. I am prepared to believe that.””

Robert Penn Warren

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Truth can be overwhelming, pulling you deeper until it becomes all‑consuming, yet it also offers a profound, unsettling enlightenment.

In simple terms: Truth can overwhelm and enlighten.

Key Takeaway

Embrace truth cautiously.

Themes

truth overwhelm spirituality

Mood

intense reflective

Type

philosophical literary spiritual

When to use this quote

  • personal crisis
  • philosophical inquiry
  • spiritual awakening

Key Concepts

existentialism human nature faith

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you respond when truth feels like a force?
  • Can confronting truth be a spiritual act?
A Different Perspective

Truth may be destabilizing and lead to loss of control.

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