--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any truth is better than make-believe…" description: "\"“Any truth is better than make-believe. Tom Hyde, the tinker, standing on the gallows, was asked if he had any thing to say. “Tell the tailors,” said h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/henry-david-thoreau-20_truth_any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-to_1641947.jpg" --- # Any truth is better than make-believe. Tom Hyde, the… ![“Any truth is better than make-believe. Tom Hyde, the tinker, standing on the gallows, was asked if he had any thing to say. “Tell the tailors,” said he, “to remember to make a knot in their thread before they take the first stitch.” His companion’s prayer is forgotten.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/henry-david-thoreau-20_truth_any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-to_1641947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/henry-david-thoreau-20_truth_any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-to_1641947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/henry-david-thoreau-20_truth_any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-to_1641947.jpg) > ““Any truth is better than make-believe. Tom Hyde, the tinker, standing on the gallows, was asked if he had any thing to say. “Tell the tailors,” said he, “to remember to make a knot in their thread before they take the first stitch.” His companion’s prayer is forgotten.”” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth outweighs illusion; practical advice precedes action, urging preparation before beginning work **In simple terms:** Truth is better than lies; prepare before you start Key Takeaway Prepare before you act Themes truth preparation craftsmanship Mood reflective cautious Type advice symbolic When to use this quote - sewing - public speaking - project planning - risk management Key Concepts pragmatism symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What preparation do you neglect before starting? - How does truth guide your actions? A Different Perspective Advice may be ignored, limiting its impact ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe Tom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-tom-575219/) [Gallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gallows/) [Gallows Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gallows-asked-575218/) [Hyde Tinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hyde-tinker-575221/) [Standing Gallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-gallows-575220/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Tom Hyde, the tinker, standing on the gallows, was asked if he had anything to say. 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I was most deeply moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-off-his-prison-garb-kneeling-on/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Julian will go to the gallows for us, and we will smile, and dream of victory-- hazy-red, soon to come, a blood-colored dawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/julian-will-go-to-the-gallows-for-us-and-we-will-smile-and-dream-of/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“He who is destined for the gallows will not drown,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesb/he-who-is-destined-for-the-gallows-will-not-drown/) [Jo Nesbø](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesb/) > [Hemans gallows ought to be the fate of all such ambitious men who would involve their country in civil wars, and all the evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/hemans-gallows-ought-to-be-the-fate-of-all-such-ambitious-men-who/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [“Clergymen, judges, statesmen--the wisest, calmest, holiest persons of their day--stood in the inner circle round about the gallows, loudest to applaud the work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/clergymen-judges-statesmen-the-wisest-calmest-holiest-persons-of/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Guess what it is that turns plants to coal. 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Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [On the gallows tree, all men are brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-the-gallows-tree-all-men-are-brothers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Gallows quotes > [On the gallows tree, all men are brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-the-gallows-tree-all-men-are-brothers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gallows humor is part of having a doctor in the house. Deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/gallows-humor-is-part-of-having-a-doctor-in-the-house-deal-with-it/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [When you see a condemned man on his way to the gallows, it moves you to pity. If you could do something to free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mary-claret/when-you-see-a-condemned-man-on-his-way-to-the-gallows-it-moves-you/) [Anthony Mary Claret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mary-claret/) > [Guess what it is that turns plants to coal. Pressure. Guess what it is that turns limestone to marble. Pressure. Guess what it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/guess-what-it-is-that-turns-plants-to-coal-pressure-guess-what-it-is/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [“Clergymen, judges, statesmen--the wisest, calmest, holiest persons of their day--stood in the inner circle round about the gallows, loudest to applaud the work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/clergymen-judges-statesmen-the-wisest-calmest-holiest-persons-of/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Hemans gallows ought to be the fate of all such ambitious men who would involve their country in civil wars, and all the evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/hemans-gallows-ought-to-be-the-fate-of-all-such-ambitious-men-who/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [“He who is destined for the gallows will not drown,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesb/he-who-is-destined-for-the-gallows-will-not-drown/) [Jo Nesbø](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesb/) > [“Julian will go to the gallows for us, and we will smile, and dream of victory-- hazy-red, soon to come, a blood-colored dawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/julian-will-go-to-the-gallows-for-us-and-we-will-smile-and-dream-of/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-off-his-prison-garb-kneeling-on/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [A member of Parliament to Disraeli: 'Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.' That depends, Sir,' said Disraeli,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-member-of-parliament-to-disraeli-sir-you-will-either-die-on-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Funny stories on set - there are thousands of them, but they are only funny to the people who were on the movies. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/funny-stories-on-set-there-are-thousands-of-them-but-they-are-only/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [Perhaps our Congress will be Exalted on a high Gallows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-clark/perhaps-our-congress-will-be-exalted-on-a-high-gallows/) [Abraham Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-clark/) > [“I had seen that errible look on a man's face before, on the faces of those being dragged to the gallows. Some scream and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maitland/i-had-seen-that-errible-look-on-a-man-s-face-before-on-the-faces-of/) [Karen Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maitland/) > [“But struggling with these better feelings was pride,--the vice of the lowest and most debased creatures no less than of the high and self-assured.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/but-struggling-with-these-better-feelings-was-pride-the-vice-of-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [And now that Thou has restored to me the knowledge of Thyself, O Lord, let thy pardon fall on me, since Thy infinite mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominicus-corea/and-now-that-thou-has-restored-to-me-the-knowledge-of-thyself-o-lord/) [Dominicus Corea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominicus-corea/) [Browse all 95 Gallows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gallows/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Any truth is better than make-believe. Tom Hyde, the tinker, standing on the gallows, was asked if he had any thing to say. “Tell the tailors,” said he, “to remember to make a knot in their thread before they take the first stitch.” His companion’s prayer is forgotten.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-tom-hyde-the-tinker-standing-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gallows" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-tom-hyde-the-tinker-standing-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/henry-david-thoreau-20_truth_any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-to_1641947.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/henry-david-thoreau-20_truth_any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-to_1641947.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/henry-david-thoreau-20_truth_any-truth-is-better-than-make-believe-to_1641947.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Any truth is better than make-believe. 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