Hold fast Quote by John F. Kennedy
““The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie--deliberate, contrived and dishonest--but the myth--persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. [Commencement Address at Yale University, June 11 1962] ””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Commencement Address, Yale University, June 11 1962
Truth is threatened not only by outright lies but by persistent myths and comfortable opinions that avoid deep thinking.
In simple terms: Myths and easy opinions block truth.
Question assumptions, seek evidence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic debates
- media consumption
- policy making
- personal belief formation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs do you accept without scrutiny?
- How can you test the validity of popular narratives?
Myths can be deeply ingrained and hard to dislodge.