---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is an element of truth in every…"
description: "\"There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.\" — Irving Berlin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/irving-berlin-11857_corny_there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-id_1636849.jpg"
---

#  There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long…

![“There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.” quote by Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/irving-berlin-11857_corny_there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-id_1636849.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/irving-berlin-11857_corny_there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-id_1636849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/irving-berlin-11857_corny_there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-id_1636849.jpg)

> “There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.”

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Ideas that become cliché often contain a kernel of truth that endures.

**In simple terms:** Clichés can hold truth.

Key Takeaway

Consider the value behind familiar sayings.

Themes

cliché truth culture

Mood

contemplative analytical

Type

cultural observational

When to use this quote

- marketing
- education
- political rhetoric
- media analysis

Key Concepts

memetics social diffusion

Questions to Reflect On

- What clichés have proven useful?
- When do clichés become limiting?

A Different Perspective

Overreliance on clichés can stifle originality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Called Corny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-corny-276184/) [Corny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corny/) [Element Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/element-truth-532951/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Idea Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-lasts-532952/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-idea-532950/)

## Related quotes

> [“I just called you corny and said you were wearing a green dress. That's, like, the least flirtatious thing anyone's ever said." "I'm willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/i-just-called-you-corny-and-said-you-were-wearing-a-green-dress-that/)

[Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/)

> [When I started out, I was what they called corny. After a week in Nashville they were calling me hillbilly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/when-i-started-out-i-was-what-they-called-corny-after-a-week-in/)

[Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/)

> [I usually sit around with the guitar in reach and grab it when I get an idea. Sometimes it lasts five minutes, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-turner/i-usually-sit-around-with-the-guitar-in-reach-and-grab-it-when-i-get/)

[Alex Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-turner/)

> [The truth is, it's not the idea, it's never the idea, it's always what you do with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-truth-is-it-s-not-the-idea-it-s-never-the-idea-it-s-always-what/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [The crucial thing is to find a truth which is truth for me, to find the idea for which I am willing to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-crucial-thing-is-to-find-a-truth-which-is-truth-for-me-to-find/)

[Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/)

> [I think truth as an idea should be left to the philosophers and perhaps religious leaders and politicians, and professional people who deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-think-truth-as-an-idea-should-be-left-to-the-philosophers-and/)

[Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/)

> [I believe that there is an important kernel of truth in the idea that financial errors recur every other generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-grant/i-believe-that-there-is-an-important-kernel-of-truth-in-the-idea-that/)

[James Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-grant/)

> [“But the truth is, it's not the idea, it's never the idea, it's always what you do with it." ( Online journal entry for January 31, 2009 )”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/but-the-truth-is-it-s-not-the-idea-it-s-never-the-idea-it-s-always/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [The best way to test whether you are saying the truth or not - if you say something and people don't react then it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-agnihotri/the-best-way-to-test-whether-you-are-saying-the-truth-or-not-if-you/)

[Vivek Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-agnihotri/)

> [The element of truth in the concept of genius is to be sought in the object, in what is open, not confined by repetition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-w-adorno/the-element-of-truth-in-the-concept-of-genius-is-to-be-sought-in-the/)

[Theodor W. Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-w-adorno/)

> [There's always an element of truth to what I write because that's why I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/there-s-always-an-element-of-truth-to-what-i-write-because-that-s-why/)

[Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/)

> [“Just remember all the good lies have an element of truth to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-davis/just-remember-all-the-good-lies-have-an-element-of-truth-to-them/)

[John J. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-davis/)

> [All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/all-conventional-wisdom-has-an-element-of-truth-to-it-but-good-design/)

[Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/)

> [There's no smoke without fire; Rumors do not spread unless there is some element of truth in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-no-smoke-without-fire-rumors-do-not-spread-unless-there-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/)

[Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/)

## More by Irving Berlin

> [Everybody ought to have a lower East Side in their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/everybody-ought-to-have-a-lower-east-side-in-their-life/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [God bless America, land that I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/god-bless-america-land-that-i-love/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [Popular music is popular because a lot of people like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/popular-music-is-popular-because-a-lot-of-people-like-it/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point in this business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/the-toughest-thing-about-success-is-that-you-ve-got-to-keep-on-being/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [A pretty girl is like a melody. That haunts you night and day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/a-pretty-girl-is-like-a-melody-that-haunts-you-night-and-day/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [You can't write a song out of thin air. You have to feel and know what you are writing about. ... Talent is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/you-can-t-write-a-song-out-of-thin-air-you-have-to-feel-and-know-what/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [A patriotic song is an emotion and you must not embarrass an audience with it, or they will hate your guts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/a-patriotic-song-is-an-emotion-and-you-must-not-embarrass-an-audience/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [My uncle out in Texas Can't even write his name He signs his checks with Xs But they cash 'em just the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/my-uncle-out-in-texas-can-t-even-write-his-name-he-signs-his-checks/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/our-attitudes-control-our-lives-attitudes-are-a-secret-power-working/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [I long to be out in the sun with no work to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/i-long-to-be-out-in-the-sun-with-no-work-to-be-done/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [When I'm worried and I can't sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/when-i-m-worried-and-i-can-t-sleep-i-count-my-blessings-instead-of/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [There's no people like show people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/there-s-no-people-like-show-people/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [Never hate a song that's sold a half million copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/never-hate-a-song-that-s-sold-a-half-million-copies/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [Things that really matter are the things that gold can't buy, so let's have another cup o' coffee and let's have another piece o'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/things-that-really-matter-are-the-things-that-gold-can-t-buy-so-let-s/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [We got to keep on being a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/we-got-to-keep-on-being-a-success/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

[Explore all 57 Irving Berlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

## More Corny quotes

> [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/)

[Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/)

> [Relationships nowadays = First week: I love you so much baby; Second week: Together forever; Third week: Single..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/relationships-nowadays-first-week-i-love-you-so-much-baby-second-week/)

[Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/)

> [I know it's corny - but I love 'Jingle Bells!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-it-s-corny-but-i-love-jingle-bells/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [I like grit, I like love and death, I'm tired of irony. ... A lot of good fiction is sentimental. ... The novelist who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/i-like-grit-i-like-love-and-death-i-m-tired-of-irony-a-lot-of-good/)

[Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/)

> [It's perfectly okay to fail. It sounds corny, but it truly is about the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urijah-faber/it-s-perfectly-okay-to-fail-it-sounds-corny-but-it-truly-is-about-the/)

[Urijah Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urijah-faber/)

> [I write songs like "The Sweetest Love." Of course I'm a little cheesy. Love is cheesy. Love is corny. But it's also the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-thicke/i-write-songs-like-the-sweetest-love-of-course-i-m-a-little-cheesy/)

[Robin Thicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-thicke/)

> [The bill would ban human cloning, and any attempts at human cloning, for both reproductive purposes and medical research. Also forbidden is the importing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-calvert/the-bill-would-ban-human-cloning-and-any-attempts-at-human-cloning/)

[Ken Calvert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-calvert/)

> [If I'm playing a violin thing, for instance, I tend to respond to that sound with the way I finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/if-i-m-playing-a-violin-thing-for-instance-i-tend-to-respond-to-that/)

[Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/)

> [The referee will now keep track of the time on the field and the shootouts have finally been banned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobi-jones/the-referee-will-now-keep-track-of-the-time-on-the-field-and-the/)

[Cobi Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobi-jones/)

> [It sounds corny, but I don't know what my life would be like without AEW... This place lets me be me in the ring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darby-allin/it-sounds-corny-but-i-don-t-know-what-my-life-would-be-like-without/)

[Darby Allin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darby-allin/)

> [For me people are people, without meaning to sound corny, it's a plain natural fact, music is a universal language and I've always known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/for-me-people-are-people-without-meaning-to-sound-corny-it-s-a-plain/)

[John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/)

> [I love to study the many things that grow below the corn stalks and bring them back to the studio to study the color.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wyeth/i-love-to-study-the-many-things-that-grow-below-the-corn-stalks-and/)

[Andrew Wyeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wyeth/)

> [There is a lot of melody and things that sound familiar in hundreds of songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-coyne/there-is-a-lot-of-melody-and-things-that-sound-familiar-in-hundreds/)

[Wayne Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-coyne/)

> [Many other countries have already banned human cloning, and there are efforts at the UN to make such a ban universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/many-other-countries-have-already-banned-human-cloning-and-there-are/)

[Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/)

> [You see, money isn't everything - I know it sounds corny but I really mean it - success means a lot more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glynis-johns/you-see-money-isn-t-everything-i-know-it-sounds-corny-but-i-really/)

[Glynis Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glynis-johns/)

[Browse all 326 Corny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corny/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Irving Berlin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-idea-that-lasts-long-enough-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Corny"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-idea-that-lasts-long-enough-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/irving-berlin-11857_corny_there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-id_1636849.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/irving-berlin-11857_corny_there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-id_1636849.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/irving-berlin-11857_corny_there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-id_1636849.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny.” — Irving Berlin",
                "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": "Irving Berlin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is an element of truth...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-idea-that-lasts-long-enough-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/there-is-an-element-of-truth-in-every-idea-that-lasts-long-enough-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
