--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One fool will deny more truth in half an…" description: "\"One fool will deny more truth in half an hour than a wise man can prove in seven years.\" — Coventry Patmore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/coventry-patmore-14170_deny_one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an_619385.jpg" --- # One fool will deny more truth in half an hour than a wise… ![“One fool will deny more truth in half an hour than a wise man can prove in seven years.” quote by Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/coventry-patmore-14170_deny_one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an_619385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/coventry-patmore-14170_deny_one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an_619385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/coventry-patmore-14170_deny_one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an_619385.jpg) > “One fool will deny more truth in half an hour than a wise man can prove in seven years.” [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Short bursts of denial can outweigh long, careful proof, highlighting human bias toward quick conclusions. **In simple terms:** Quick denial beats slow proof. Key Takeaway Beware of hasty judgments. Themes truth logic bias communication patience Mood critical skeptical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - debates - media consumption - legal arguments - scientific discourse Key Concepts Cognitive bias argumentation epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we prefer easy denial? - How can we value patient reasoning? A Different Perspective Complex truths often need time to be validated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [I would be a fool to deny my own abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-would-be-a-fool-to-deny-my-own-abilities/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [If a man cannot prove his religion in the valley, it is not worth anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-a-man-cannot-prove-his-religion-in-the-valley-it-is-not-worth/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I've come loaded with statistics, for I've noticed that a man can't prove anything without statistics. No man can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-ve-come-loaded-with-statistics-for-i-ve-noticed-that-a-man-can-t/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I only need one man who can prove that all men are not the same at all :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tine/i-only-need-one-man-who-can-prove-that-all-men-are-not-the-same-at-all/) [Tine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tine/) > [The average man can't prove most of the things that he chooses to speak of, and still won't research and find out the root…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-marley/the-average-man-can-t-prove-most-of-the-things-that-he-chooses-to/) [Damian Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-marley/) > [When a girl's heart has been broken over and over again, it takes a man to prove to her that he's not like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-girl-s-heart-has-been-broken-over-and-over-again-it-takes-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You will know if who the real man is,they will show it to you and prove it to you that they are worth it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/you-will-know-if-who-the-real-man-is-they-will-show-it-to-you-and/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) > [No man can prove upon awakening that he is the man who he thinks went to bed the night before, or that anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/no-man-can-prove-upon-awakening-that-he-is-the-man-who-he-thinks-went/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Nothing is more disgraceful than that an old man should have nothing to show to prove that he has lived long, except his years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nothing-is-more-disgraceful-than-that-an-old-man-should-have-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It is an undeniable privilege of every man to prove himself right in the thesis that the world is his enemy; for if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-an-undeniable-privilege-of-every-man-to-prove-himself-right-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anyone can be a princess but it takes a real man to prove to you that you are one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanna/anyone-can-be-a-princess-but-it-takes-a-real-man-to-prove-to-you-that/) [Alanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanna/) > [“If need be, the round man can prove a most blunt barrier. Just ask the man with the hammer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/if-need-be-the-round-man-can-prove-a-most-blunt-barrier-just-ask-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Between the two poles of whole-truth and half-truth is slung the chancy hammock in which we all rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/between-the-two-poles-of-whole-truth-and-half-truth-is-slung-the/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [“He tells not a half truth, but a truth and a half”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-shakespeare/he-tells-not-a-half-truth-but-a-truth-and-a-half/) [Nicholas Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-shakespeare/) > [Democracy is a constant tension between truth and half-truth and, in the arsenal of truth, there is no greater weapon than fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/democracy-is-a-constant-tension-between-truth-and-half-truth-and-in/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## More by Coventry Patmore > [Ah, whither shall a maiden flee, When a bold youth so swift pursues, And siege of tenderest courtesy, With hope perseverant, still renews!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/ah-whither-shall-a-maiden-flee-when-a-bold-youth-so-swift-pursues-and/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Fortunately for themselves and the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. Nearly all our disasters come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/fortunately-for-themselves-and-the-world-nearly-all-men-are-cowards/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [O, Heart, remember thee That Man is none, Save One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/o-heart-remember-thee-that-man-is-none-save-one/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Ah, wasteful woman, she who may On her sweet self set her own price, Knowing man cannot choose but pay, How has she cheapened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/ah-wasteful-woman-she-who-may-on-her-sweet-self-set-her-own-price/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [The ardour chills us which we do not share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/the-ardour-chills-us-which-we-do-not-share/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [“ The Toys My little Son, who look'd from thoughtful eyes And moved and spoke in quiet grown-up wise, Having my law the seventh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/the-toys-my-little-son-who-look-d-from-thoughtful-eyes-and-moved-and/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [A moment's fruition of a true felicity is enough and eternity not too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/a-moment-s-fruition-of-a-true-felicity-is-enough-and-eternity-not-too/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Creation differs from subsistence only as the first leap of a fountain differs from its continuance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/creation-differs-from-subsistence-only-as-the-first-leap-of-a/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [The woman is the man's glory, and she naturally delights in the praises which are assurances that she is fulfilling her function; and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/the-woman-is-the-man-s-glory-and-she-naturally-delights-in-the/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [A saint is a person who does almost everything any other decent person does, only somewhat better and with a totally different motive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/a-saint-is-a-person-who-does-almost-everything-any-other-decent/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [To have noughtIs to have all things without care or thought!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/to-have-noughtis-to-have-all-things-without-care-or-thought/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Those who know God know that it is quite a mistake to suppose that there are only five senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/those-who-know-god-know-that-it-is-quite-a-mistake-to-suppose-that/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [If we may credit certain hints contained in the lives of the saints, love raises the spirit above the sphere of reverence and worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/if-we-may-credit-certain-hints-contained-in-the-lives-of-the-saints/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Kind souls, you wonder why, love you, When you, you wonder why, love none We love, Fool, for the good we do, Not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/kind-souls-you-wonder-why-love-you-when-you-you-wonder-why-love-none/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [None thrives for long upon the happiest dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/none-thrives-for-long-upon-the-happiest-dream/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) [Explore all 47 Coventry Patmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) ## More Deny quotes > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [One cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/one-cannot-deny-the-humanity-of-another-without-diminishing-one-s-own/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [Not to fear a person with power--to profess, instead, one's love--is to deny that that person has power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/not-to-fear-a-person-with-power-to-profess-instead-one-s-love-is-to/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [Grace is ours. Let's live it! Deny it or debate it and we kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/grace-is-ours-let-s-live-it-deny-it-or-debate-it-and-we-kill-it/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Our life is half natural and half technological. Half-and-half is good. You cannot deny that high-tech is progress. We need it for jobs. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nam-june-paik/our-life-is-half-natural-and-half-technological-half-and-half-is-good/) [Nam June Paik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nam-june-paik/) > [Whether you face reality head on and make a life change, or deny your responsibility, you've made a choice. The way I see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-phillips/whether-you-face-reality-head-on-and-make-a-life-change-or-deny-your/) [Shawn Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-phillips/) > [“I've tried to deny it even to myself... My heart and soul are filled with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-thacker/i-ve-tried-to-deny-it-even-to-myself-my-heart-and-soul-are-filled/) [Shelly Thacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-thacker/) > [“Just because you deny facts and science doesn't mean they aren't true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-corn/just-because-you-deny-facts-and-science-doesn-t-mean-they-aren-t-true/) [Johnny Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-corn/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Peace in the struggle to find peace.. comfort on the way to comfort. And if I shed a tear I won't cage it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/peace-in-the-struggle-to-find-peace-comfort-on-the-way-to-comfort-and/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [I'm saying that the domain of poetry includes both oral & written forms, that poetry goes back to a pre-literate situation & would survive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-rothenberg/i-m-saying-that-the-domain-of-poetry-includes-both-oral-written-forms/) Jerome Rothenberg > [It is the night-black Massachusetts legendry which packs the really macabre "kick". Here is material for a really profound study in group-neuroticism; for certainly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/it-is-the-night-black-massachusetts-legendry-which-packs-the-really/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [Something very unique about Germany is that once you are suspected or accused of having worked for the Stassi, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-schwochow/something-very-unique-about-germany-is-that-once-you-are-suspected-or/) [Christian Schwochow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-schwochow/) Browse all 2,237 Deny quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One fool will deny more truth in half an hour than a wise man can prove in seven years.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Coventry Patmore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an-hour-than-a-wise-man-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an-hour-than-a-wise-man-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/coventry-patmore-14170_deny_one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an_619385.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/coventry-patmore-14170_deny_one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an_619385.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/coventry-patmore-14170_deny_one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an_619385.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One fool will deny more truth in half an hour than a wise man can prove in seven years.” — Coventry Patmore", "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": "Coventry Patmore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One fool will deny more truth...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an-hour-than-a-wise-man-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an-hour-than-a-wise-man-can/#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 } } ] } ```