--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truth is a hard master, and costly to…" description: "\"Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies all problems.\" — Ellis Peters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/ellis-peters-8392_masters_truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-ser_556819.jpg" --- # Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it… ![“Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies all problems.” quote by Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/ellis-peters-8392_masters_truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-ser_556819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/ellis-peters-8392_masters_truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-ser_556819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/ellis-peters-8392_masters_truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-ser_556819.jpg) > “Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies all problems.” [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth demands effort and can be costly, yet it clarifies complex issues by reducing ambiguity. **In simple terms:** Truth is hard but simplifies. Key Takeaway Seek truth even when it’s difficult. Themes honesty clarity cost Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - legal decisions - scientific research - personal dilemmas - leadership challenges Key Concepts philosophy ethics problem solving Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to sacrifice for truth? - How does truth change your perspective? A Different Perspective Truth may be painful and disrupt comfort zones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [We're surrounded. 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Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-m-ingram/) > [“Servitude simplifies life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-hunt/servitude-simplifies-life/) [Susan Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-hunt/) > [Searching for the truth is easy. Accepting the truth is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/searching-for-the-truth-is-easy-accepting-the-truth-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accepting the truth is hard at first but everything works itself out after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-truth-is-hard-at-first-but-everything-works-itself-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is hard to tell truth, and hard not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/it-is-hard-to-tell-truth-and-hard-not-to/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I hate liars. I mean like, since when has telling the truth become so hard?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-liars-i-mean-like-since-when-has-telling-the-truth-become-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is hard to swallow when you're choking on your pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-hard-to-swallow-when-you-re-choking-on-your-pride/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When people’s parallel truth collides with their real truth, they may have a hard time in subduing all the fanciful items and characters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-people-s-parallel-truth-collides-with-their-real-truth-they-may/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [It is easy to find truth, though it is hard to face it, and harder still to follow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/it-is-easy-to-find-truth-though-it-is-hard-to-face-it-and-harder/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Make up your stories, but truth's so hard to say. Brain is numb and your tongue will surely dig you grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megadeth/make-up-your-stories-but-truth-s-so-hard-to-say-brain-is-numb-and/) [Megadeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megadeth/) > [The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-truth-is-sometimes-a-hard-pill-to-swallow-it-sometimes-causes-us/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [The history of our race, and each individual’s experience, are sown thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-history-of-our-race-and-each-individual-s-experience-are-sown/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Ellis Peters > [The mountains of today are the molehills of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/the-mountains-of-today-are-the-molehills-of-tomorrow/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Once, I remember, Father Abbot said that our purpose is justice, and with God lies the privilege of mercy. But even God, when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/once-i-remember-father-abbot-said-that-our-purpose-is-justice-and/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“... What is done matters, but what is yet to do matters far more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/what-is-done-matters-but-what-is-yet-to-do-matters-far-more/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [Nothing is more pleasing and engaging than the sense of having conferred benefits. Not even the gratification of receiving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/nothing-is-more-pleasing-and-engaging-than-the-sense-of-having/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“... there are as holy persons outside orders as ever there are in, and not to trifle with truth, as good men out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/there-are-as-holy-persons-outside-orders-as-ever-there-are-in-and-not/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Innocence is an infinitely fragile thing and thought can sometimes injure, even destroy it. - Pg. 254”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/innocence-is-an-infinitely-fragile-thing-and-thought-can-sometimes/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“When I want to hear my echo,” said Brother Cadfael, “I will at least speak first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/when-i-want-to-hear-my-echo-said-brother-cadfael-i-will-at-least/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [You cannot demand truth, and then select half and throw the inconvenient remainder away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/you-cannot-demand-truth-and-then-select-half-and-throw-the/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [What are wits for unless a man uses them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/what-are-wits-for-unless-a-man-uses-them/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [Despair is deadly sin, but worse, it is mortal folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/despair-is-deadly-sin-but-worse-it-is-mortal-folly/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [I do believe I begin to grasp the nature of miracles! For would it be a miracle, if there was any reason for it?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/i-do-believe-i-begin-to-grasp-the-nature-of-miracles-for-would-it-be/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Nothing learned is ever quite wasted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/nothing-learned-is-ever-quite-wasted/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Questions are as supple as willow wands, it's easy to brush by them and slip them aside, and no one the worse for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/questions-are-as-supple-as-willow-wands-it-s-easy-to-brush-by-them/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [Here I begin to know that blessedness is what can be snatched out the passing day and put away to think of afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/here-i-begin-to-know-that-blessedness-is-what-can-be-snatched-out-the/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [ If ever you do go back, what is it you want of Evesham?" "Do I know? \[...\] The silence, it might be ... or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/if-ever-you-do-go-back-what-is-it-you-want-of-evesham-do-i-know-the/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) [Explore all 81 Ellis Peters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) ## More Masters quotes > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [We are reaching deep within ourselves to adjust the master knob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-are-reaching-deep-within-ourselves-to-adjust-the-master-knob/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [There are so many great artists, I think, who kind of suffer from being icons, legends, acknowledged masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/there-are-so-many-great-artists-i-think-who-kind-of-suffer-from-being/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [In art, all who have done something other than their predecessors have merited the epithet of revolutionary; and it is they alone who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/in-art-all-who-have-done-something-other-than-their-predecessors-have/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [The first responsibility of the Muslim is as teacher. That is his job, to teach. His first school, his first classroom is within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/the-first-responsibility-of-the-muslim-is-as-teacher-that-is-his-job/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) Browse all 4,282 Masters quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies all problems.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellis Peters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-serve-but-it-simplifies-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Masters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-serve-but-it-simplifies-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/ellis-peters-8392_masters_truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-ser_556819.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/ellis-peters-8392_masters_truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-ser_556819.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/ellis-peters-8392_masters_truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-ser_556819.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies all problems.” — Ellis Peters", "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": "Ellis Peters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Truth is a hard master, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-serve-but-it-simplifies-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-serve-but-it-simplifies-all/#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 } } ] } ```