--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truth is not only a man's ornament but…" description: "\"Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it is the great man's glory, and the poor man's stock: a man's truth is his livelihood, his reco..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/benjamin-whichcote-7885_credit_truth-is-not-only-a-man-s-ornament-but-h_129971.jpg" --- # Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it… ![“Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it is the great man's glory, and the poor man's stock: a man's truth is his livelihood, his recommendation, his letters of credit.” quote by Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/benjamin-whichcote-7885_credit_truth-is-not-only-a-man-s-ornament-but-h_129971.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/benjamin-whichcote-7885_credit_truth-is-not-only-a-man-s-ornament-but-h_129971.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/benjamin-whichcote-7885_credit_truth-is-not-only-a-man-s-ornament-but-h_129971.jpg) > “Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it is the great man's glory, and the poor man's stock: a man's truth is his livelihood, his recommendation, his letters of credit.” [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth serves both as personal integrity and a practical tool, shaping reputation and economic stability. **In simple terms:** Truth is both moral and practical. Key Takeaway Use truth to build trust and livelihood. Themes integrity reputation economics morality trust Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal branding - financial dealings Key Concepts personal values social capital credibility Questions to Reflect On - How does truth affect your credibility? - Can truth be a liability? A Different Perspective Trust can be exploited if truth is weaponized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Livelihood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/livelihood/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poor man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-man/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“One man’s truth is another man’s lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-phillips/one-man-s-truth-is-another-man-s-lie/) Louise Phillips > [A man of truth must also be a man of care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-man-of-truth-must-also-be-a-man-of-care/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [A man of truth must ever be confident, if he has also equal need to be diffident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-man-of-truth-must-ever-be-confident-if-he-has-also-equal-need-to-be/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“The measure of a man's truth is the measure of his love, and Truth is far removed from him whose life is not governed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/the-measure-of-a-man-s-truth-is-the-measure-of-his-love-and-truth-is/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“As a matter of fact it wouldn’t be safe to tell any man the truth about his wife! Funnily enough, I’d trust most women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/as-a-matter-of-fact-it-wouldn-t-be-safe-to-tell-any-man-the-truth/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“In his separation from God in whose light alone man can see the truth, man lost his catholicizing spirit- he no longer (apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-van-til/in-his-separation-from-god-in-whose-light-alone-man-can-see-the-truth/) [Henry R. Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-van-til/) > [“One Man's Lie is Another Man's Truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crown/one-man-s-lie-is-another-man-s-truth/) Robert Crown > [“God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/god-made-him-and-therefore-let-him-pass-for-a-man-in-truth-i-know-it/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The foundation of a man's duty as a man is in truth. Beyond this there is nothing to be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torii-mototada/the-foundation-of-a-man-s-duty-as-a-man-is-in-truth-beyond-this-there/) [Torii Mototada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torii-mototada/) > [“The Man of Truth has learned that Illusion is the One Reality, and that Substance is the Great Impostor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/the-man-of-truth-has-learned-that-illusion-is-the-one-reality-and/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [You tell a man the truth about himself and, well, they find they have trouble accepting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/you-tell-a-man-the-truth-about-himself-and-well-they-find-they-have/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“A man by the truth is a house by the sea: He has a clear range of vision and a very fresh air!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-man-by-the-truth-is-a-house-by-the-sea-he-has-a-clear-range-of/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [One man with truth on his side is stronger than a majority in error, and will conquer in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-schaff/one-man-with-truth-on-his-side-is-stronger-than-a-majority-in-error/) [Philip Schaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-schaff/) > [The gentleman is a man of truth, lord of his own actions, and expressing that lordship in his behavior, not in any manner dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-gentleman-is-a-man-of-truth-lord-of-his-own-actions-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Thus the truth—that his life should be directed by the spiritual element which is its basis, which manifests itself as love, and which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/thus-the-truth-that-his-life-should-be-directed-by-the-spiritual/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Benjamin Whichcote > [Whoever despiseth shame, despiseth sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/whoever-despiseth-shame-despiseth-sin/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that repents is angry with himself; I need not be angry with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-repents-is-angry-with-himself-i-need-not-be-angry-with-him/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None can do a man so much harm as he doeth himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-can-do-a-man-so-much-harm-as-he-doeth-himself/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Let not a man's self be to him all in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-not-a-man-s-self-be-to-him-all-in-all/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Take away the self-conceited, and there will be elbowroom in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/take-away-the-self-conceited-and-there-will-be-elbowroom-in-the-world/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Let us all so live as we shall wish we had lived when we come to die; 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but men become wise by consideration, observation, experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-of-us-was-born-knowing-or-wise-but-men-become-wise-by/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-are-so-empty-as-those-who-are-full-of-themselves/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [The human soul is to God, is as the flower to the sun; it opens at its approach, and shuts when it withdraws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/the-human-soul-is-to-god-is-as-the-flower-to-the-sun-it-opens-at-its/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) [Explore all 86 Benjamin Whichcote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) ## More Credit quotes > [I don't really like too much credit. 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