--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One column of truth cannot hold an…" description: "\"One column of truth cannot hold an institution of ideas from falling into ignorance. It is wiser that a person of prudence and purpose save his strengt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_ideas_one-column-of-truth-cannot-hold-an-insti_1800470.jpg" --- # One column of truth cannot hold an institution of ideas… ![“One column of truth cannot hold an institution of ideas from falling into ignorance. It is wiser that a person of prudence and purpose save his strength for battles that can be won.” quote by Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_ideas_one-column-of-truth-cannot-hold-an-insti_1800470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_ideas_one-column-of-truth-cannot-hold-an-insti_1800470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_ideas_one-column-of-truth-cannot-hold-an-insti_1800470.jpg) > “One column of truth cannot hold an institution of ideas from falling into ignorance. It is wiser that a person of prudence and purpose save his strength for battles that can be won.” [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating strategic allocation of effort, focusing on battles that can be won rather than futile struggles. **In simple terms:** Choose battles wisely to conserve strength. Key Takeaway Prioritize achievable goals. Themes strategy wisdom resource management focus Mood strategic pragmatic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - business planning - political campaigns - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts prudent decision‑making goal setting effort allocation Questions to Reflect On - What battles are worth fighting? - How do you assess win probability? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on caution may lead to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Column Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/column-truth-2026671/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Wiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-wiser-2026668/) [Person Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-prudence-2026670/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiser/) [Wiser Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiser-person-2026669/) ## Related quotes > [To confess ignorance is often wiser than to beat about the bush with a hypothetical diagnosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/to-confess-ignorance-is-often-wiser-than-to-beat-about-the-bush-with/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [He did not only hurt you, he made you a stronger and more wiser person. he was just an experience, and experience you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylielwaters/he-did-not-only-hurt-you-he-made-you-a-stronger-and-more-wiser-person/) [Kylielwaters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylielwaters/) > [“can one dispute that the wiser a person is, the more effective and content and meaning-rich they will be? I would say not. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-a-merchey/can-one-dispute-that-the-wiser-a-person-is-the-more-effective-and/) [Jason A. Merchey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-a-merchey/) > [Our mistakes from the past are just that: mistakes. And they were necessary to make in order to become the wiser person we became.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/our-mistakes-from-the-past-are-just-that-mistakes-and-they-were-2/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I like the idea of the book being wiser than the person who wrote it. None of the novels I've written are direct transcriptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-like-the-idea-of-the-book-being-wiser-than-the-person-who-wrote-it/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [One of the challenges of commencement speeches is that you have this older, wiser person who is accomplished talking to young, not-yet-so-wise, not-yet-accomplished adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/one-of-the-challenges-of-commencement-speeches-is-that-you-have-this/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Look out! Oh, you chump and weak fool, you are one of a humanity that can't be numbered and not more than the dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/look-out-oh-you-chump-and-weak-fool-you-are-one-of-a-humanity-that/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Old age likes to dwell in the recollections of the past, and, mistaking, the speedy march of years, often is inclined to take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lajos-kossuth/old-age-likes-to-dwell-in-the-recollections-of-the-past-and-mistaking/) [Lajos Kossuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lajos-kossuth/) > [The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and of virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of thegreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-must-submit-to-the-dominion-of-prudence-and-of-virtue-or/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round a sapling, and spoils the growth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/i-hate-to-see-prudence-clinging-to-the-green-suckers-of-youth-tis/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Often a certain abdication of prudence and foresight is an element of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/often-a-certain-abdication-of-prudence-and-foresight-is-an-element-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-continue-to-develop-our-technology-without-wisdom-or-prudence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) ## More by Bryant H. McGill > [True education is limited to those people who would die without knowing, whereas the masses in the institutions are merely going through the motions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/true-education-is-limited-to-those-people-who-would-die-without/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [You reclaim your power by loving what you were once taught to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/you-reclaim-your-power-by-loving-what-you-were-once-taught-to-hate/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [It will feel impossible; like you are dying inside this is your soul crying out for life. It may take everything you have; every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/it-will-feel-impossible-like-you-are-dying-inside-this-is-your-soul/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Genius is always accompanied by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/genius-is-always-accompanied-by-enthusiasm/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [My self-esteem had been crushed through years of childhood bullying and serious abuses, which would take me decades to overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/my-self-esteem-had-been-crushed-through-years-of-childhood-bullying/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Good manners are appreciated as much as bad manners are abhorred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/good-manners-are-appreciated-as-much-as-bad-manners-are-abhorred/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Become empty to become complete, for it is the void that defines the form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/become-empty-to-become-complete-for-it-is-the-void-that-defines-the/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Dare to love every person, including yourself. Become the energy of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/dare-to-love-every-person-including-yourself-become-the-energy-of-love/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [A mistake made by many people with great convictions is that they will let nothing stand in the way of their views, not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/a-mistake-made-by-many-people-with-great-convictions-is-that-they/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [You are the artist and the art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/you-are-the-artist-and-the-art/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [In America, educators punish those who actually think for themselves. There is only acceptance for popular opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/in-america-educators-punish-those-who-actually-think-for-themselves/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Hate controls everything it touches, but love sets everything it touches free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/hate-controls-everything-it-touches-but-love-sets-everything-it/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Let people speak. Let people disagree. Communicate. Listen. Have high-respect, if not for your opponent, then for your own comportment and conduct as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/let-people-speak-let-people-disagree-communicate-listen-have-high/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [While it is important for people to see your promise you must also remember that hope is the keeper of both happiness and disappointment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/while-it-is-important-for-people-to-see-your-promise-you-must-also/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Stop your worrying, panicking and stressing. Breathe. Remember, you made it this far through difficulties that seemed impossible. Remember how many times you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/stop-your-worrying-panicking-and-stressing-breathe-remember-you-made/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) [Explore all 158 Bryant H. McGill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) ## More Ideas quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. 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It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One column of truth cannot hold an institution of ideas from falling into ignorance. It is wiser that a person of prudence and purpose save his strength for battles that can be won.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bryant H. 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