--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: . . . I still hold two truths with equal…" description: "\"“. . . I still hold two truths with equal and fundamental certainty. One: the British did terrible things to the Irish. Two: the Irish, had they the po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/john-dominic-crossan-29819_irish_i-still-hold-two-truths-with-equal-and-f_1636898.jpg" --- # . . . I still hold two truths with equal and fundamental… ![“. . . I still hold two truths with equal and fundamental certainty. One: the British did terrible things to the Irish. Two: the Irish, had they the power, would have done equally terrible things to the British. And so also for any other paired adversaries I can imagine. The difficulty is to hold…” quote by John Dominic Crossan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/john-dominic-crossan-29819_irish_i-still-hold-two-truths-with-equal-and-f_1636898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/john-dominic-crossan-29819_irish_i-still-hold-two-truths-with-equal-and-f_1636898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/john-dominic-crossan-29819_irish_i-still-hold-two-truths-with-equal-and-f_1636898.jpg) > ““. . . I still hold two truths with equal and fundamental certainty. One: the British did terrible things to the Irish. Two: the Irish, had they the power, would have done equally terrible things to the British. And so also for any other paired adversaries I can imagine. The difficulty is to hold on to both truths with equal intensity, not let either one negate the other, and know when to emphasize one without forgetting the other. Our humanity is probably lost and gained in the necessary tension between them both. I hope, by the way, that I do not sound anti-British. It is impossible not to admire a people who gave up India and held on to Northern Ireland. That shows a truly Celtic sense of humor.”” [John Dominic Crossan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dominic-crossan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that both sides of a historical conflict can be equally culpable, urging balanced moral judgment without erasing either truth. **In simple terms:** Both oppressors and victims can commit atrocities; hold both truths. Key Takeaway Recognize complexity in historical narratives. Themes history ethics conflict perspective Mood reflective critical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - educational curricula - public discourse - reconciliation efforts - media analysis Key Concepts Moral relativism colonialism national identity Questions to Reflect On - How can societies acknowledge shared culpability? - What role does empathy play in reconciling historical grievances? A Different Perspective Balancing dual truths may oversimplify power dynamics and individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish/) [Northern ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/northern-ireland/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Any truth, no matter how valid, if emphasized to the exclusion of other truths of equal importance, is practical error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-kuhlman/any-truth-no-matter-how-valid-if-emphasized-to-the-exclusion-of-other/) [Kathryn Kuhlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-kuhlman/) > [“While the Rumanian Radio was serializing (without my permission) How to be an Alien as an anti-British tract, the Central Office of Information rang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/while-the-rumanian-radio-was-serializing-without-my-permission-how-to/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [I am not anti-English, I am not anti-British, I am not anti-any Government, but I am anti-untruth, anti-humbug and anti-injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-am-not-anti-english-i-am-not-anti-british-i-am-not-anti-any/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The Indian struggle is not anti-British, it is anti-exploitation, anti-foreign rule, not anti-foreigners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-indian-struggle-is-not-anti-british-it-is-anti-exploitation-anti/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“They work their discreet types of madness on us, power and pain, and we hold to our truths in the darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-mcginnis/they-work-their-discreet-types-of-madness-on-us-power-and-pain-and-we/) [Mindy McGinnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-mcginnis/) > [We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created-5/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created-4/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed; We hold these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-have-a-dream-that-one-day-this-nation-will-rise-up-and-live-out-the-3/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We hold these truths to be self-evident; All people are born creative; Endowed by our Creator with the inalienable right and responsibility to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-marx-hubbard/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-all-people-are-born-creative/) [Barbara Marx Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-marx-hubbard/) > [We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-and-women-are/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“By the way we also hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal that they have been endowed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicanor-parra/by-the-way-we-also-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men/) [Nicanor Parra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicanor-parra/) > [We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created-equal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created-3/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. 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