--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true value of a man is not determined…" description: "\"“The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to get to the Truth. It is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/christopher-hitchens-117_left-hand_the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determine_2968015.jpg" --- # The true value of a man is not determined by his… ![“The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to get to the Truth. It is not possession of the Truth, but rather the pursuit of Truth by which he extends his powers and in which his ever-growing perfectibility is to be…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/christopher-hitchens-117_left-hand_the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determine_2968015.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/christopher-hitchens-117_left-hand_the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determine_2968015.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/christopher-hitchens-117_left-hand_the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determine_2968015.jpg) > ““The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to get to the Truth. It is not possession of the Truth, but rather the pursuit of Truth by which he extends his powers and in which his ever-growing perfectibility is to be found. Possession makes one passive, indolent, and proud. If God were to hold all Truth concealed in his right hand, and in his left only the steady and diligent drive for Truth, albeit with the proviso that I would always and forever err in the process, and to offer me the choice, I would with all humility take the left hand. —GOTTHOLD LESSING, ANTI-GOEZE (1778)”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True worth lies in the relentless search for truth, not in claiming to possess it; active seeking expands human potential. **In simple terms:** Seeking truth, not owning it, builds character. Key Takeaway Seek truth actively. Themes philosophy ethics human potential humility Mood introspective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - personal reflection - spiritual practice Key Concepts truth pursuit growth imperfection Questions to Reflect On - What drives your quest for truth? - How do you handle errors in your search? A Different Perspective Believing one already has truth can breed complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exertion Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exertion-truth-356251/) [Hold Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-truth-353670/) [Left hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-hand/) [Possession Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession-truth-356247/) [Right hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-hand/) [True value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-value/) [Truth Exertion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-exertion-356250/) [Truth Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-possession-356248/) ## Related quotes > [The true value of man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-value-of-man-is-not-determined-by-his-possession-supposed-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The true value of a man is not determined b his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-lessing/the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determined-b-his-possession-supposed/) [Gotthold Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-lessing/) > [“The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determined-by-his-possession-supposed-2/) [Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/) > [“The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determined-by-his-possession-supposed/) [Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/) > [To have the truth in your possession you can be found guilty, sentenced to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tosh/to-have-the-truth-in-your-possession-you-can-be-found-guilty/) [Peter Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tosh/) > [For a creative writer possession of the 'truth' is less important than emotional sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/for-a-creative-writer-possession-of-the-truth-is-less-important-than/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [It is not the possession of truth, but the success which attends the seeking after it, that enriches the seeker and brings happiness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-planck/it-is-not-the-possession-of-truth-but-the-success-which-attends-the/) [Max Planck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-planck/) > [It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/it-is-one-thing-to-show-a-man-that-he-is-in-an-error-and-another-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Few things have done more harm than the belief on the part of individuals or groups (or tribes or states or nations or churches)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/few-things-have-done-more-harm-than-the-belief-on-the-part-of/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [“I have spent a lifetime looking for remedies to all manner of life's problems -- personal, social, political, global. I am deeply suspicious of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-have-spent-a-lifetime-looking-for-remedies-to-all-manner-of-life-s/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Apocalypse does not point to a fiery Armageddon but to the fact that our ignorance and our complacency are coming to an end… The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/apocalypse-does-not-point-to-a-fiery-armageddon-but-to-the-fact-that/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [A man may be in as just possession of the truth as of a city, and yet be forced to surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/a-man-may-be-in-as-just-possession-of-the-truth-as-of-a-city-and-yet/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [When we believe ourselves in possession of the only truth, we are likely to be indifferent to common everyday truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-we-believe-ourselves-in-possession-of-the-only-truth-we-are/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“A man may be in as just possession of truth as of a City, and yet be forced to surrender it - this was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt/a-man-may-be-in-as-just-possession-of-truth-as-of-a-city-and-yet-be/) [A.S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt/) > [We thought we left possession behind but truth is I was yours and you were mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/we-thought-we-left-possession-behind-but-truth-is-i-was-yours-and-you/) [Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Left hand quotes > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [“In the darkness as we lie side by side John Cole's left hand snakes over under the sheets and takes a hold of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/in-the-darkness-as-we-lie-side-by-side-john-cole-s-left-hand-snakes/) [Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/) > [I can go right, I can go left, I'm amphibious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-shackleford/i-can-go-right-i-can-go-left-i-m-amphibious/) [Charles Shackleford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-shackleford/) > [If I had a choice, I'd say I'm right-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/if-i-had-a-choice-i-d-say-i-m-right-handed/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [“Except in stock locutions, such as "You were paid yesterday," "The Germans were defeated," or "The project was abandoned," the passive voice is virtually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/except-in-stock-locutions-such-as-you-were-paid-yesterday-the-germans/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [I always pet a dog with my left hand because if he bit me I'd still have my right hand to paint with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gris/i-always-pet-a-dog-with-my-left-hand-because-if-he-bit-me-i-d-still/) [Juan Gris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gris/) > [Well, it's always been my nature to take chances My right hand drawing back while my left hand advances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/well-it-s-always-been-my-nature-to-take-chances-my-right-hand-drawing/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I was at Mount Tamalpais near San Francisco hiking when a boulder came hurling down the mountainside and smashed my left hand. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/i-was-at-mount-tamalpais-near-san-francisco-hiking-when-a-boulder/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [... and she held out a pretty gold ring. 'Put it,' she said, 'on the fourth finger of my left hand, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/and-she-held-out-a-pretty-gold-ring-put-it-she-said-on-the-fourth/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“When he’d seen her standing at the stove. . . . that familiar wave of possessiveness and love had welled up in him. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-reus/when-he-d-seen-her-standing-at-the-stove-that-familiar-wave-of/) [Katie Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-reus/) > [“He seemed to be drinking in her face, looking at her instead of into her. “Stop. Stop that. This isn’t goodbye.” Blake pulled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/he-seemed-to-be-drinking-in-her-face-looking-at-her-instead-of-into/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZAZEN First of all, you have to sit down, which you’re probably already doing. The traditional way is to sit on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/instructions-for-zazen-first-of-all-you-have-to-sit-down-which-you-re/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the sky I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry: 'Awake, my Little ones, and fill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/dreaming-when-dawn-s-left-hand-was-in-the-sky-i-heard-a-voice-within/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“The answer was again in the affirmative, so arrangements were made to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace. 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It is not possession of the Truth, but rather the pursuit of Truth by which he extends his powers and in which his ever-growing perfectibility is to be found. Possession makes one passive, indolent, and proud. If God were to hold all Truth concealed in his right hand, and in his left only the steady and diligent drive for Truth, albeit with the proviso that I would always and forever err in the process, and to offer me the choice, I would with all humility take the left hand. —GOTTHOLD LESSING, ANTI-GOEZE (1778)”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Hitchens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determined-by-his-possession-supposed-3/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Left hand" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determined-by-his-possession-supposed-3/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/christopher-hitchens-117_left-hand_the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determine_2968015.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/christopher-hitchens-117_left-hand_the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determine_2968015.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/christopher-hitchens-117_left-hand_the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determine_2968015.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his…” — Christopher Hitchens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Christopher Hitchens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The true value of a man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determined-by-his-possession-supposed-3/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-true-value-of-a-man-is-not-determined-by-his-possession-supposed-3/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```