--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once Steve Fuller said that there is this…" description: "\"Once Steve Fuller said that there is this idea that your responsibility as an intellectual is just to speak the truth as you see it. But actually, you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/julian-baggini-3081_appreciative_once-steve-fuller-said-that-there-is-thi_2571255.png" --- # Once Steve Fuller said that there is this idea that your… ![“Once Steve Fuller said that there is this idea that your responsibility as an intellectual is just to speak the truth as you see it. But actually, you should be more appreciative of what needs to be said. I don't think that's ever an excuse to say something you don't believe is true - but…” quote by Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/julian-baggini-3081_appreciative_once-steve-fuller-said-that-there-is-thi_2571255.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/julian-baggini-3081_appreciative_once-steve-fuller-said-that-there-is-thi_2571255.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/julian-baggini-3081_appreciative_once-steve-fuller-said-that-there-is-thi_2571255.png) > “Once Steve Fuller said that there is this idea that your responsibility as an intellectual is just to speak the truth as you see it. But actually, you should be more appreciative of what needs to be said. I don't think that's ever an excuse to say something you don't believe is true - but sometimes the emphasis has to be different. Well, if I'm talking to an audience of hardline atheists, I'll be trying to unsettle them a bit more, whereas, if I'm speaking to an audience of believers, I'll be giving them more of the pros of atheism. It's about having a sensitivity to context.” [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellectuals must adapt their message to audience values while staying truthful, balancing honesty with strategic emphasis. **In simple terms:** Speak truth, tailor message to listeners. Key Takeaway Adjust tone without compromising facts. Themes ethics communication audience awareness Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - academic lectures - public debates - media interviews - teaching - policy advocacy Key Concepts contextual rhetoric responsibility strategic persuasion Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance honesty with audience expectations? - When is it appropriate to emphasize certain truths? A Different Perspective Risk of diluting truth to please audience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciative/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheism Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism-having-271352/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hardline Atheists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardline-atheists-1692282/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Pros Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pros-atheism-1692281/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Sensitivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitivity/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Speak Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-truth/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [Atheism is having a heyday in the born-again United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/atheism-is-having-a-heyday-in-the-born-again-united-states/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [ “It was about that time \[415 BCE\] that the poet Diagoras of Melos was proscribed for atheism, he having declared that the non-punishment of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-robertson/it-was-about-that-time-415-bce-that-the-poet-diagoras-of-melos-was/) [J. M. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-robertson/) > [“Enough of this, dearest one. I ought not to have spoken of it, but I lost my temper. Still, it is pleasant to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/enough-of-this-dearest-one-i-ought-not-to-have-spoken-of-it-but-i/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Sometimes distortions can speak the truth. They confirm for me what is real by troubling me with something false.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-overstreet/sometimes-distortions-can-speak-the-truth-they-confirm-for-me-what-is/) [Jeffrey Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-overstreet/) > [I would rather speak the truth to ten men than blandishments and lying to a million. Try it, ye who think there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-would-rather-speak-the-truth-to-ten-men-than-blandishments-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Speak the truth, even if you voice shakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/speak-the-truth-even-if-you-voice-shakes/) [Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/) > [I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/i-am-tired-of-talk-that-comes-to-nothing-it-makes-my-heart-sick-when/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/it-is-better-to-be-divided-by-truth-than-to-be-united-in-error-it-is/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [They're only words. You can't be afraid of words that speak the truth, even if it's an unpleasant truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/they-re-only-words-you-can-t-be-afraid-of-words-that-speak-the-truth/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Speak the truth even if its against your self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/speak-the-truth-even-if-its-against-your-self/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is so difficult - at least, I find it difficult - to understand people who speak the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/it-is-so-difficult-at-least-i-find-it-difficult-to-understand-people/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/sinners-often-speak-the-truth-and-saints-have-led-people-astray/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [I have found that in fiction one is freer to speak the truth, if only because in fiction the truth is not expected or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sington/i-have-found-that-in-fiction-one-is-freer-to-speak-the-truth-if-only/) [Philip Sington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sington/) > [Im starting to feel as though I should give up now to not risk what we have. keep silent what I want to speak.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaliyah-owens/im-starting-to-feel-as-though-i-should-give-up-now-to-not-risk-what/) [Aaliyah Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaliyah-owens/) > [I just speak the truth. I keep it real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-vera/i-just-speak-the-truth-i-keep-it-real/) [Marlon Vera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-vera/) ## More by Julian Baggini > [I don't think there is ever a direct connection between the philosophical community and the wider populus. I'm very aware of this because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/i-don-t-think-there-is-ever-a-direct-connection-between-the/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Anger clearly has its proper place at work, which is neither wholly absent nor ever present. The manager who is an emotional blank is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/anger-clearly-has-its-proper-place-at-work-which-is-neither-wholly/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [I don't feel proprietorial about the problems of philosophy. History has taught us that many philosophical issues can grow up, leave home and live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/i-don-t-feel-proprietorial-about-the-problems-of-philosophy-history/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [True respect means taking other people's beliefs seriously and assuming they are adult and intelligent enough to be able to cope with it if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/true-respect-means-taking-other-people-s-beliefs-seriously-and/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [We do wrong willfully when we fail to think hard about whether what we're doing is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/we-do-wrong-willfully-when-we-fail-to-think-hard-about-whether-what/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [It may not have the virtuous ring of the golden rule, but the maxim 'never say never' is one of the most important in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/it-may-not-have-the-virtuous-ring-of-the-golden-rule-but-the-maxim/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [I'm not one of these people who is sour about academia. I'm very lucky not to be in academia, but I am an absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/i-m-not-one-of-these-people-who-is-sour-about-academia-i-m-very-lucky/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“Working out whether or not the claims you make in your premises are true, while important, is simply not enough to ensure that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/working-out-whether-or-not-the-claims-you-make-in-your-premises-are/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Real life is about accepting ups and downs, the good and the bad, the possibility of failure as well as the ambition to succeed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/real-life-is-about-accepting-ups-and-downs-the-good-and-the-bad-the/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“Philosophy without criticism is like hunting deer without a shotgun, so, if you want people to like you, avoid robust philosophical debate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/philosophy-without-criticism-is-like-hunting-deer-without-a-shotgun/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Looking out over the port of Dover, with the endless steam of boats coming in and out, every British citizen is reminded that belonging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/looking-out-over-the-port-of-dover-with-the-endless-steam-of-boats/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [If you believe you are right, then you should believe that you can make the case that you're right. This requires you to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/if-you-believe-you-are-right-then-you-should-believe-that-you-can/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“You know what a word means when you know how to use it, not what its definition is. That is why we can understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/you-know-what-a-word-means-when-you-know-how-to-use-it-not-what-its/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Daily life is better when it involves interactions with real people who have a personal investment in their labour, like shopkeepers, than it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/daily-life-is-better-when-it-involves-interactions-with-real-people/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“the meaning of life is not some kind of answer, which, once learned, is forever possessed. For life to stay meaningful it must continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/the-meaning-of-life-is-not-some-kind-of-answer-which-once-learned-is/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) [Explore all 140 Julian Baggini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) ## More Appreciative quotes > [My college experience was like everyone else's. I learned a lot. I gained a new perspective on the world and on people that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/my-college-experience-was-like-everyone-else-s-i-learned-a-lot-i/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [I felt my personal life was not what it should be. It had nothing to do with Mr. Show - I'm monstrously appreciative and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-felt-my-personal-life-was-not-what-it-should-be-it-had-nothing-to/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [Share your enthusiasm with the collector's enthusiasm for the work, and discover things together. Be nice and appreciative and at the same time give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kostabi/share-your-enthusiasm-with-the-collector-s-enthusiasm-for-the-work/) [Mark Kostabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kostabi/) > [As a member of the House Committee on Small Business and because of my own experience as a small business owner, I am appreciative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-bean/as-a-member-of-the-house-committee-on-small-business-and-because-of/) [Melissa Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-bean/) > [I'm very appreciative to the people of Atlanta, forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-horford/i-m-very-appreciative-to-the-people-of-atlanta-forever/) [Al Horford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-horford/) > [“Let us be appreciative of all the beauties and blessings of our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/let-us-be-appreciative-of-all-the-beauties-and-blessings-of-our-lives/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Work hard. Don’t quit. Be appreciative, be thankful, be grateful, be respectful. Also, never whine, never complain. And always, for crying out loud, keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/work-hard-don-t-quit-be-appreciative-be-thankful-be-grateful-be/) [Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/) > [“Not that I regret my previous choice. It’s only that the anticipation of killing has me feeling particularly appreciative of youth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christa-faust/not-that-i-regret-my-previous-choice-it-s-only-that-the-anticipation/) [Christa Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christa-faust/) > [The thing that is cool about my come up is that I dealt with fame and having money gradually. It didn't happen overnight. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-songz/the-thing-that-is-cool-about-my-come-up-is-that-i-dealt-with-fame-and/) [Trey Songz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-songz/) > [One of my obsession is animals. I'm into dog rescues. It drives me crazy when people go to pet stores and buy dogs. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-o-heir/one-of-my-obsession-is-animals-i-m-into-dog-rescues-it-drives-me/) [Jim O'Heir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-o-heir/) > [“If you do not find the deed producing a sweetness or expansion in your heart, then blame it. For the Lord, Exalted is He,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abd-al-rahman-al-sa-di/if-you-do-not-find-the-deed-producing-a-sweetness-or-expansion-in/) [Abd al-Rahman al-Sa'di](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abd-al-rahman-al-sa-di/) > [I seem to have very few casual readers, only passionate and appreciative ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-seem-to-have-very-few-casual-readers-only-passionate-and/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I was able to learn a lot in my first four years in the league at a very high level, and I'm appreciative and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/i-was-able-to-learn-a-lot-in-my-first-four-years-in-the-league-at-a/) [Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/) > [I think that people with differing points of view find common ground in 'Modern Family' is very flattering, and I'm appreciative of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-that-people-with-differing-points-of-view-find-common-ground/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [“Commonplaces never become tiresome. It is we who become tired when we cease to be curious and appreciative. We find that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/commonplaces-never-become-tiresome-it-is-we-who-become-tired-when-we/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) [Browse all 258 Appreciative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once Steve Fuller said that there is this idea that your responsibility as an intellectual is just to speak the truth as you see it. But actually, you should be more appreciative of what needs to be said. I don't think that's ever an excuse to say something you don't believe is true - but sometimes the emphasis has to be different. 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