--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth can set you free, but when it…" description: "\"“The truth can set you free, but when it comes, it's more like a wrecking-ball than a holy beam of illumination.”\" — Bryant McGill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/bryant-mcgill-108_freedom_the-truth-can-set-you-free-but-when-it-c_3112684.jpg" --- # The truth can set you free, but when it comes, it's more… ![“The truth can set you free, but when it comes, it's more like a wrecking-ball than a holy beam of illumination.” quote by Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/bryant-mcgill-108_freedom_the-truth-can-set-you-free-but-when-it-c_3112684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/bryant-mcgill-108_freedom_the-truth-can-set-you-free-but-when-it-c_3112684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/bryant-mcgill-108_freedom_the-truth-can-set-you-free-but-when-it-c_3112684.jpg) > ““The truth can set you free, but when it comes, it's more like a wrecking-ball than a holy beam of illumination.”” [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) ## 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 liberating yet disruptive, challenging comfort zones and demanding adaptation. **In simple terms:** Truth frees but can be shocking. Key Takeaway Embrace truth, prepare for impact. Themes truth freedom disruption Mood inspirational cautionary Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - self‑reflection - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - Are you ready for uncomfortable truths? - How do you manage the fallout of sudden insight? A Different Perspective Truth may cause pain before healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Set You Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-you-free/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Because even though the truth can set you free, that doesn't mean it won't be painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/because-even-though-the-truth-can-set-you-free-that-doesn-t-mean-it/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“Not only truth can set you free, but forgiveness as well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/not-only-truth-can-set-you-free-but-forgiveness-as-well/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [The truth can set you free. Some are forced to be hidden, while others enjoy being caged. But when the light shines on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-can-set-you-free-some-are-forced-to-be-hidden-while-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Only the Truth can set you free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/only-the-truth-can-set-you-free/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Before the TRUTH can set you free,you must first recognize which LIES are holding you hostage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-ea/before-the-truth-can-set-you-free-you-must-first-recognize-which-lies/) [Prince Ea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-ea/) > [Before the truth can set you free, you need to recognize which lie is holding you hostage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-the-truth-can-set-you-free-you-need-to-recognize-which-lie-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Truth will set you free…But first it'll piss you off!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/truth-will-set-you-free-but-first-it-ll-piss-you-off/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) > [“The truth may set you free. It won't fill your fuel tank.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/the-truth-may-set-you-free-it-won-t-fill-your-fuel-tank/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off. I hate you ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazoozie/the-truth-will-set-you-free-but-first-it-will-piss-you-off-i-hate-you/) Jazoozie > [Truth will set you free. And Truth has a name...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/truth-will-set-you-free-and-truth-has-a-name/) [William P. 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Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [The truth will set you free...unless you want to know the truth about who killed JFK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-belzer/the-truth-will-set-you-free-unless-you-want-to-know-the-truth-about/) [Richard Belzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-belzer/) > [“As has been said, the truth will set you free - but first it will make you miserable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-watts/as-has-been-said-the-truth-will-set-you-free-but-first-it-will-make/) [Malcolm Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-watts/) > [“The truth alone will not set you free, but holding on to the truth in the face of the lie, over and over again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reimer/the-truth-alone-will-not-set-you-free-but-holding-on-to-the-truth-in/) [Rob Reimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reimer/) ## More by Bryant McGill > [“Witnessing a selfless act brings tears to remind us how we should be treating others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witnessing-a-selfless-act-brings-tears-to-remind-us-how-we-should-be/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The teacher can only provide the lessons, but the student ultimately decides what to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-teacher-can-only-provide-the-lessons-but-the-student-ultimately/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“You have permission to walk away from anything that doesn't feel right. Trust your instincts and listen to your inner-voice — it's trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-have-permission-to-walk-away-from-anything-that-doesn-t-feel/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“You cannot change another person's mind or educate them; this they must do themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-cannot-change-another-person-s-mind-or-educate-them-this-they/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The public good must come before private interests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-public-good-must-come-before-private-interests/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Countries, states, cities, corporations and laws are all words on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/countries-states-cities-corporations-and-laws-are-all-words-on-paper/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“We must remember that nature is the supreme cradle of life, and must be protected and treated with the highest respect and care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-must-remember-that-nature-is-the-supreme-cradle-of-life-and-must/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Even discomfort or pain delivers awareness of life, and an opportunity for gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/even-discomfort-or-pain-delivers-awareness-of-life-and-an-opportunity/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The secret to unseating great power, is not to move the other direction, but to compete directly against their goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-secret-to-unseating-great-power-is-not-to-move-the-other/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“It is essential that you follow your own idea of passion, even if to others it looks like suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/it-is-essential-that-you-follow-your-own-idea-of-passion-even-if-to/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Joy is a practice, not an involuntary state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/joy-is-a-practice-not-an-involuntary-state/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) [Explore all 1,286 Bryant McGill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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