--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is one thing to show a man that he is…" description: "\"It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.\" — John Locke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/john-locke-814_possession_it-is-one-thing-to-show-a-man-that-he-is_348308.png" --- # It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and… ![“It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/john-locke-814_possession_it-is-one-thing-to-show-a-man-that-he-is_348308.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/john-locke-814_possession_it-is-one-thing-to-show-a-man-that-he-is_348308.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/john-locke-814_possession_it-is-one-thing-to-show-a-man-that-he-is_348308.png) > “It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.” [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It distinguishes between exposing someone's mistake and giving them true knowledge. **In simple terms:** Showing error differs from giving truth. Key Takeaway Provide truth, not just critique. Themes knowledge truth teaching Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - debate - mentoring - conflict resolution Key Concepts epistemology education Questions to Reflect On - How can you transition from pointing out errors to offering truth? - What barriers prevent acceptance of truth? A Different Perspective Truth may be resisted if not delivered sensitively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Apocalypse does not point to a fiery Armageddon but to the fact that our ignorance and our complacency are coming to an end… The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/apocalypse-does-not-point-to-a-fiery-armageddon-but-to-the-fact-that/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Man is made for error; it enters his mind naturally, and he discovers a few truths only with the greatest effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-the-great/man-is-made-for-error-it-enters-his-mind-naturally-and-he-discovers-a/) [Frederick The Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-the-great/) > [“ “Well, Mr. George, I’d say that’s a long way up for us to be worried about a wee 30 feet from away down here?...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-baldwin/well-mr-george-i-d-say-that-s-a-long-way-up-for-us-to-be-worried/) Tom Baldwin > [“To free a man from error is not to deprive him of anything but to give him something: for the knowledge that a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/to-free-a-man-from-error-is-not-to-deprive-him-of-anything-but-to/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [The man who can own up to his error is greater than he who merely knows how to avoid making it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/the-man-who-can-own-up-to-his-error-is-greater-than-he-who-merely/) [Jean Francois Paul de Gondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/) > [“To free a man from error is to give, not take away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arhtur-schopenhaueur/to-free-a-man-from-error-is-to-give-not-take-away/) Arhtur Schopenhaueur > [No man's error becomes his own Law; nor obliges him to persist in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/no-man-s-error-becomes-his-own-law-nor-obliges-him-to-persist-in-it/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [To free a man from error is to give, not to take away. 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