--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Merely to ask, “Is that true? Do I and my…" description: "\"“Merely to ask, “Is that true? Do I and my hearers believe that?” does not produce instant answers. But failing to contend with those basic questions m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/haddon-w-robinson-21690_truth-seeking_merely-to-ask-is-that-true-do-i-and-my-h_2351068.jpg" --- # Merely to ask, “Is that true? Do I and my hearers believe… ![“Merely to ask, “Is that true? Do I and my hearers believe that?” does not produce instant answers. But failing to contend with those basic questions means we will speak only to those who are already committed.” quote by Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/haddon-w-robinson-21690_truth-seeking_merely-to-ask-is-that-true-do-i-and-my-h_2351068.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/haddon-w-robinson-21690_truth-seeking_merely-to-ask-is-that-true-do-i-and-my-h_2351068.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/haddon-w-robinson-21690_truth-seeking_merely-to-ask-is-that-true-do-i-and-my-h_2351068.jpg) > ““Merely to ask, “Is that true? Do I and my hearers believe that?” does not produce instant answers. But failing to contend with those basic questions means we will speak only to those who are already committed.”” [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning basic truths is essential; avoiding it leads to echo chambers and shallow discourse. **In simple terms:** Critical questioning prevents shallow conversations. Key Takeaway Always ask fundamental questions. Themes critical thinking dialogue intellectual honesty education Mood analytical encouraging Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - classroom discussions - public debates - personal reflection Key Concepts philosophy pedagogy Questions to Reflect On - What core assumptions do you hold? - How can you foster open dialogue? A Different Perspective People may resist challenging their beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [It is frequently more rewarding merely to ask pertinent questions. It may get someone to go and look for an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-philip/it-is-frequently-more-rewarding-merely-to-ask-pertinent-questions-it/) [Prince Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-philip/) > [Whenever you're in doubt about any action, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? You can also ask, what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/whenever-you-re-in-doubt-about-any-action-ask-yourself-is-it-true-is/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates; At the first gate, ask yourself, is is true? At the second gate ask,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/before-you-speak-let-your-words-pass-through-three-gates-at-the-first/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Before we speak, let's our words pass through three gates. At the first gate, let's ask ourselves, 'Is it true?' At the second let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufi/before-we-speak-let-s-our-words-pass-through-three-gates-at-the-first/) Sufi > [You can tell a true war story by the questions you ask. Somebody tells a story, let's say, and afterward you ask, 'Is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/you-can-tell-a-true-war-story-by-the-questions-you-ask-somebody-tells/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [“When you ask “Is it true?” for example, you may not really want to know. It could be that you’d rather stay with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-you-ask-is-it-true-for-example-you-may-not-really-want-to-know/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“When someone says something, don’t ask yourself if it is true. Ask what it might be true of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/when-someone-says-something-don-t-ask-yourself-if-it-is-true-ask-what/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [Anything I write I ask myself: Is it true, is it entertaining?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/anything-i-write-i-ask-myself-is-it-true-is-it-entertaining/) [Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/) > [I hate it when people come and ask me is it true that.. like bitch please mind your own buisness fix your own problems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarin/i-hate-it-when-people-come-and-ask-me-is-it-true-that-like-bitch/) [Jarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarin/) > [“Ask a true scientist a very profound question on his science, and he will be silent. Ask a true religious person a very simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/ask-a-true-scientist-a-very-profound-question-on-his-science-and-he/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [If you propose to speak, always ask yourself; Is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-propose-to-speak-always-ask-yourself-is-it-true-is-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a citizen, you have a duty to ask what is true and what is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/as-a-citizen-you-have-a-duty-to-ask-what-is-true-and-what-is-false/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More by Haddon W. Robinson > [“Poorly prepared conclusions that wander about looking for an exit line leave a congregation looking toward the exit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/poorly-prepared-conclusions-that-wander-about-looking-for-an-exit/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“So what? What difference does it make?” How should this concept be applied? Is the biblical writer applying his idea? Where does he develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/so-what-what-difference-does-it-make-how-should-this-concept-be/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [You will invest your life in something, or you will throw it away on nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/you-will-invest-your-life-in-something-or-you-will-throw-it-away-on/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“A series of different questions must be raised when trying to understand a story. A sampling of those questions might be the following: Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/a-series-of-different-questions-must-be-raised-when-trying-to/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“bland composite” of the congregation’s “congenial, ever helpful, ever ready to help boy scout; as the darling of the old ladies and as sufficiently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/bland-composite-of-the-congregation-s-congenial-ever-helpful-ever/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“Here is another thing that used to puzzle me. Is it not frightfully unfair that this new life should be confined to people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/here-is-another-thing-that-used-to-puzzle-me-is-it-not-frightfully/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“Preach means “to cry out, herald, or exhort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/preach-means-to-cry-out-herald-or-exhort/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“If you start into a sentence without pinning down what you want to emphasize, you may end up stressing insignificant details. If you add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/if-you-start-into-a-sentence-without-pinning-down-what-you-want-to/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“Remember that you’re looking for the author’s ideas. Begin by stating in rough fashion what you think the writer is talking about—that is, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/remember-that-you-re-looking-for-the-author-s-ideas-begin-by-stating/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“What does this mean?” What has to be explained so that my listeners will understand the passage? Does the biblical writer explain his statements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/what-does-this-mean-what-has-to-be-explained-so-that-my-listeners/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“More thought is demanded but more accomplished if we set them up: “Written boldly into the Bible is this phrase . . .” “Paul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/more-thought-is-demanded-but-more-accomplished-if-we-set-them-up/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [Ministers must read. We are required to read not as a luxury but as a necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/ministers-must-read-we-are-required-to-read-not-as-a-luxury-but-as-a/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“In your sermon manuscript short sentences keep your thoughts from tangling and therefore are easier for you to remember. When you deliver your sermon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/in-your-sermon-manuscript-short-sentences-keep-your-thoughts-from/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“people need to be reminded as much as they need to be informed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/people-need-to-be-reminded-as-much-as-they-need-to-be-informed/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) > [“An effective introduction should accomplish three objectives. It gets attention, it surfaces a need, and it orients the audience to the body of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haddon-w-robinson/an-effective-introduction-should-accomplish-three-objectives-it-gets/) [Haddon W. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) [Explore all 28 Haddon W. Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haddon-w-robinson/) ## More Truth Seeking quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [ “\[T\]he question "What is everything?" has no meaning, even though it seems to be profound. \[...\] The point is, perhaps, that I am not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-question-what-is-everything-has-no-meaning-even-though-it-seems/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/) [Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/) > [Question with boldness, hold to the truth, and speak without fear,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/question-with-boldness-hold-to-the-truth-and-speak-without-fear/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Lie to me once, & I'll question everything you say after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lie-to-me-once-i-ll-question-everything-you-say-after-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/what-makes-us-human-i-think-is-an-ability-to-ask-questions-a/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [ \[In geology,\] As in history, the material in hand remains silent if no questions are asked. The nature of these questions depends on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-geology-as-in-history-the-material-in-hand-remains-silent-if-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you're completely lost, when you have no idea what comes next or why things are happening, faith is what gets you through. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannetta-chapman/when-you-re-completely-lost-when-you-have-no-idea-what-comes-next-or/) [Vannetta Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannetta-chapman/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 1,795 Truth Seeking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Merely to ask, “Is that true? Do I and my hearers believe that?” does not produce instant answers. But failing to contend with those basic questions means we will speak only to those who are already committed.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Haddon W. 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