--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's very, very hard to speak truth to…" description: "\"It's very, very hard to speak truth to power when the truth is unpleasant. I think it's one of the toughest things especially a young person has to do ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/david-gergen-27311_advice_it-s-very-very-hard-to-speak-truth-to-po_2236697.jpg" --- # It's very, very hard to speak truth to power when the… ![“It's very, very hard to speak truth to power when the truth is unpleasant. I think it's one of the toughest things especially a young person has to do and the only way you can do it is if you're willing to walk out the door if he doesn't take your advice. Or if you're willing to walk out the door…” quote by David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/david-gergen-27311_advice_it-s-very-very-hard-to-speak-truth-to-po_2236697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/david-gergen-27311_advice_it-s-very-very-hard-to-speak-truth-to-po_2236697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/david-gergen-27311_advice_it-s-very-very-hard-to-speak-truth-to-po_2236697.jpg) > “It's very, very hard to speak truth to power when the truth is unpleasant. I think it's one of the toughest things especially a young person has to do and the only way you can do it is if you're willing to walk out the door if he doesn't take your advice. Or if you're willing to walk out the door if he goes over the line.” [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking truth to power is difficult, especially when the truth is uncomfortable; it may require leaving the situation if ignored. **In simple terms:** Truth is hard to tell to those in power, especially when unpleasant. Key Takeaway Be prepared to walk away if ignored. Themes courage integrity power dynamics youth ethics Mood determined reflective serious Type advice political ethical When to use this quote - Political meetings - corporate boardrooms - family discussions - activist protests - student councils Key Concepts Moral responsibility political pressure personal boundaries Questions to Reflect On - When have you faced a truth that was ignored? - What are the risks of walking away? A Different Perspective Leaving may limit influence and can be seen as abandoning responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-speak-1282510/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Power Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-truth-237476/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Speak Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-truth/) [Speak Truth To Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-truth-to-power/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) [Truth Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-power/) [Truth Unpleasant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-unpleasant-5053324/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [You can do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-can-do-it/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [To speak truth to power is not a particularly honorable vocation. 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