Truth is far and flat, and fancy is fiery; and truth is…
“Truth is far and flat, and fancy is fiery; and truth is cold, and people feel the cold, and they may wrap themselves against it in fancies that are fiery, but they should not call them facts; and, generally, poets do not; they are shrewd, they feel the cold, too, but they know a hawk from a handsaw, a fact from a fancy, as none knows better.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote contrasts the stark, uncomfortable nature of truth with the comforting allure of fanciful ideas, warning against mistaking imagination for fact.
In simple terms: Truth is cold; fancy is warm, but only truth is real.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and accept uncomfortable truths.
Themes
truth
perception
reality
imagination
critical thinking
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
philosophical
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- media consumption
- education
- political discourse
Key Concepts
epistemology
psychology
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish fact from appealing illusion?
- What risks arise when we favor comfort over reality?
A Different Perspective
Fancies can obscure truth, leading to misinformation.