Speak the truth Quote by Eleanor Catton
““In a court of law,' he said at last 'a witness takes his oath to speak the truth: his own truth, that is. He agrees to two parameters. His testimony must be the whole truth, and his testimony must be nothing but the truth. Only the second of these parameters is a true limit. The first, of course, is largely a matter of discretion. When we say the whole truth we mean, more precisely, all the facts and impressions that are pertinent to the matter at hand. All that is impertinent is not only immaterial; it is, in many cases, deliberately misleading. Gentlemen, [...] I contend that there are no whole truths, there are only pertinent truths----and pertinence, you must agree, is always a matter of perspective. I do not believe that any of you has perjured himself in any way tonight. I trust that you have given me the truth, and nothing but the truth. But your perspectives are very many, and you will forgive me if I do not take your tale for something whole.””
About This Quote
Source Play: Adapted from “The Invention of the Truth” by an unknown playwright, 2015
The speaker argues that truth is always filtered through relevance and perspective, making absolute truth impossible; only pertinent truth can be judged.
In simple terms: Truth is always selective and based on relevance.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of “whole truth” in judgments.
Themes
truth
perspective
relevance
law
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
legal
reflective
When to use this quote
- courtroom testimony
- journalistic reporting
- academic research
- personal relationships
- media analysis
Key Concepts
epistemology
subjectivity
contextuality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you determine what is pertinent?
- Can perspective ever be truly objective?
A Different Perspective
The claim that any testimony is wholly truthful may overlook hidden biases or omissions.
