Excellent Quote by Henrik Ibsen
“Don't use that foreign word: ideals. We have the excellent native word: lies.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Master Builder, 1892
He critiques the tendency to replace abstract ideals with concrete falsehoods, suggesting language can obscure truth.
In simple terms: Ideals are replaced by lies.
Key Takeaway
Beware of euphemisms.
Themes
truth
language
philosophy
Mood
critical
serious
Type
philosophical
instructive
When to use this quote
- political rhetoric
- advertising
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
semantic distortion
ethical communication
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do words shape our perception of truth?
- When does simplifying become deception?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex ideas.
