--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no merit in being truthful when…" description: "\"There is no merit in being truthful when one is truthful by nature, or rather when one can be nothing else; it is a gift, like poetry or music. But it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/eugene-delacroix-6604_being-truthful_there-is-no-merit-in-being-truthful-when_1021783.jpg" --- # There is no merit in being truthful when one is truthful… ![“There is no merit in being truthful when one is truthful by nature, or rather when one can be nothing else; it is a gift, like poetry or music. But it needs courage to be truthful after carefully considering the matter, unless a kind of pride is involved; for example, the man who says to himself…” quote by Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/eugene-delacroix-6604_being-truthful_there-is-no-merit-in-being-truthful-when_1021783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/eugene-delacroix-6604_being-truthful_there-is-no-merit-in-being-truthful-when_1021783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/eugene-delacroix-6604_being-truthful_there-is-no-merit-in-being-truthful-when_1021783.jpg) > “There is no merit in being truthful when one is truthful by nature, or rather when one can be nothing else; it is a gift, like poetry or music. But it needs courage to be truthful after carefully considering the matter, unless a kind of pride is involved; for example, the man who says to himself, "I am ugly," and then says, "I am ugly" to his friends, lest they should think themselves the first to make the discovery.” [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truthfulness is natural but requires deliberate courage when examined; pride can distort honesty. **In simple terms:** Honesty is natural but needs courage; pride can hinder. Key Takeaway Cultivate thoughtful honesty despite pride. Themes truth courage pride self‑reflection Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - leadership - art criticism - personal growth Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What truths do you avoid saying? - How does pride affect your honesty? A Different Perspective Courage may be lacking in high‑stakes situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being truthful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-truthful/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truthful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truthful/) ## Related quotes > [One of the blessings of maturity is that it sometimes brings one greater courage to be truthful, regardless of what those who do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/one-of-the-blessings-of-maturity-is-that-it-sometimes-brings-one/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Be truthful. Nature only sides with truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/be-truthful-nature-only-sides-with-truth/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Kids are truthful by nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-chlumsky/kids-are-truthful-by-nature/) [Anna Chlumsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-chlumsky/) > [You're made to feel ugly, and I made ugly beautiful. Just by sheer persistence. Nobody has the right to say that I am ugly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/you-re-made-to-feel-ugly-and-i-made-ugly-beautiful-just-by-sheer/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [I am sweet, I am ugly, I am mean if you love me. I'll try hard just to please you, when I say I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-am-sweet-i-am-ugly-i-am-mean-if-you-love-me-i-ll-try-hard-just-to/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Insecurity is an ugly thing, it makes you hate people you don't even know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/insecurity-is-an-ugly-thing-it-makes-you-hate-people-you-don-t-even/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [After all, what would be "beautiful" if the contradiction had not first become conscious of itself, if the ugly had not first said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/after-all-what-would-be-beautiful-if-the-contradiction-had-not-first/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I am ugly, but what I do have is charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldinho/i-am-ugly-but-what-i-do-have-is-charm/) [Ronaldinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldinho/) > [Tonight I am ugly. 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Ellen taught me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-de-rossi/i-began-to-see-myself-as-someone-who-can-help-others-understand/) [Portia de Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-de-rossi/) > [I believe politicians should aim to be accurate and truthful in what they say at all times. You can be truthful and inaccurate but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-believe-politicians-should-aim-to-be-accurate-and-truthful-in-what/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [In order to discover truth, we must be truthful ourselves, and must welcome those who point out our errors as heartily as those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/in-order-to-discover-truth-we-must-be-truthful-ourselves-and-must/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [I think what saved me is me being honest. I think I somewhow had the courage to do something and say something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-what-saved-me-is-me-being-honest-i-think-i-somewhow-had-the/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) ## More by Eugene Delacroix > [A wife of your own stature is the greatest of all blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/a-wife-of-your-own-stature-is-the-greatest-of-all-blessings/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [“Men of genius are made not by new ideas, but by an idea which possesses them, namely, that what has been said has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/men-of-genius-are-made-not-by-new-ideas-but-by-an-idea-which/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Every time I await a model, even when I am most pressed to time, I am overjoyed when the time comes and I tremble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/every-time-i-await-a-model-even-when-i-am-most-pressed-to-time-i-am/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [The things one experiences alone with oneself are very much stronger and purer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/the-things-one-experiences-alone-with-oneself-are-very-much-stronger/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [I believe it safe to say that all progress must lead, not to further progress, but finally to the negation of progress, a return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/i-believe-it-safe-to-say-that-all-progress-must-lead-not-to-further/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Weaknesses in men of genius are usually an exaggeration of their personal feeling; in the hands of feeble imitators they become the most flagrant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/weaknesses-in-men-of-genius-are-usually-an-exaggeration-of-their/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [The true wisdom of the philosopher ought to insist in enjoying everything. Yet we apply ourselves to dissecting and destroying everything that is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/the-true-wisdom-of-the-philosopher-ought-to-insist-in-enjoying/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [To be understood a writer has to explain almost everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/to-be-understood-a-writer-has-to-explain-almost-everything/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Nature is a dictionary; one draws words from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/nature-is-a-dictionary-one-draws-words-from-it/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [How can this world, which is so beautiful, include so much horror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/how-can-this-world-which-is-so-beautiful-include-so-much-horror/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Glory to that Homer of painting, to that father of warmth and enthusiasm... he really paints men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/glory-to-that-homer-of-painting-to-that-father-of-warmth-and/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [The contour should come last, only a very experienced eye can place it rightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/the-contour-should-come-last-only-a-very-experienced-eye-can-place-it/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [ \[Photography is\] in some ways false just because it is so exact. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/photography-is-in-some-ways-false-just-because-it-is-so-exact/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [We work not only to produce, but to give value to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/we-work-not-only-to-produce-but-to-give-value-to-time/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Can any man say with certainty that he was happy at a particular moment of time which he remembers as being delightful? Remembering it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/can-any-man-say-with-certainty-that-he-was-happy-at-a-particular/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) [Explore all 97 Eugene Delacroix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) ## More Being truthful quotes > [I think what saved me is me being honest. I think I somewhow had the courage to do something and say something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-what-saved-me-is-me-being-honest-i-think-i-somewhow-had-the/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [In order to discover truth, we must be truthful ourselves, and must welcome those who point out our errors as heartily as those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/in-order-to-discover-truth-we-must-be-truthful-ourselves-and-must/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [I believe politicians should aim to be accurate and truthful in what they say at all times. You can be truthful and inaccurate but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-believe-politicians-should-aim-to-be-accurate-and-truthful-in-what/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [I began to see myself as someone who can help others understand diversity rather than feeling like a social outcast. Ellen taught me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-de-rossi/i-began-to-see-myself-as-someone-who-can-help-others-understand/) [Portia de Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-de-rossi/) > [American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/american-traditions-and-the-american-ethic-require-us-to-be-truthful/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [When writing about oneself, one must strive to be truthful. Truth is more important than modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-writing-about-oneself-one-must-strive-to-be-truthful-truth-is/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Be truthful... and pay attention. I would also recommend the avoidance of credit cards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/be-truthful-and-pay-attention-i-would-also-recommend-the-avoidance-of/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [There is nothing to fear from truth…Being truthful is essential to being an independent thinker and obtaining greater understanding of what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/there-is-nothing-to-fear-from-truth-being-truthful-is-essential-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [I really love to act. I really love to touch the people with my work. It's about giving people what they want to see.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-really-love-to-act-i-really-love-to-touch-the-people-with-my-work/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [I think the currency of leadership is transparency. You've got to be truthful. I don't think you should be vulnerable every day, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/i-think-the-currency-of-leadership-is-transparency-you-ve-got-to-be/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [If I can mean to people - if I can symbolize the ability to pursue gender equality, racial equality, and to be truthful about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-hill/if-i-can-mean-to-people-if-i-can-symbolize-the-ability-to-pursue/) [Anita Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-hill/) > [Acting's not about nose jobs and liposuction. It's about being truthful to what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phylicia-rashad/acting-s-not-about-nose-jobs-and-liposuction-it-s-about-being/) [Phylicia Rashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phylicia-rashad/) > [Please be truthful, but also please be benevolent, please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/please-be-truthful-but-also-please-be-benevolent-please/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [I feel like you can't really be truthful as an artist and empathize with the human experience, unless you know your truth and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-feel-like-you-can-t-really-be-truthful-as-an-artist-and-empathize/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I began making pictures because I wanted to record what supports hope: the untranslatable mystery and beauty of the world. Along the way, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/i-began-making-pictures-because-i-wanted-to-record-what-supports-hope/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) [Browse all 125 Being truthful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-truthful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no merit in being truthful when one is truthful by nature, or rather when one can be nothing else; it is a gift, like poetry or music. 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