--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ridicule is the best test of truth." description: "\"Ridicule is the best test of truth.\" — Lord Chesterfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/lord-chesterfield-757_ridicule_ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-81796_817968.jpg" --- # Ridicule is the best test of truth. ![“Ridicule is the best test of truth.” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/lord-chesterfield-757_ridicule_ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-81796_817968.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/lord-chesterfield-757_ridicule_ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-81796_817968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/lord-chesterfield-757_ridicule_ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-81796_817968.jpg) > “Ridicule is the best test of truth.” [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ridicule reveals the strength or weakness of ideas. **In simple terms:** Mockery tests truth. Key Takeaway Use criticism to evaluate claims. Themes skepticism truth testing social critique Mood analytical critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - debates - media analysis - peer review Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking public discourse Questions to Reflect On - When is ridicule constructive? - How to handle mockery? A Different Perspective Ridicule can be unfair or misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-test-345747/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Ridicule Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule-best-345745/) [Test Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-truth-345746/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/it-is-commonly-said-that-ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-for-that/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The final test of truth is ridicule. Very few dogmas have ever faced it and survived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-final-test-of-truth-is-ridicule-very-few-dogmas-have-ever-faced/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [It is said that ridicule is the test of truth: it is never applied, but when we wish to deceive ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/it-is-said-that-ridicule-is-the-test-of-truth-it-is-never-applied-but/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Reason is the test of ridicule, not ridicule the test of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-warburton/reason-is-the-test-of-ridicule-not-ridicule-the-test-of-truth/) [William Warburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-warburton/) > [It is said that ridicule is the test of truth; but it is never applied except when we wish to deceive ourselves - when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/it-is-said-that-ridicule-is-the-test-of-truth-but-it-is-never-applied/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [The test of truth in life is not whether we can remember what we learned in school, but whether we are prepared for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-schleicher/the-test-of-truth-in-life-is-not-whether-we-can-remember-what-we/) [Andreas Schleicher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-schleicher/) > [The best test of whether someone is extremely stupid (or extremely wise) is whether financial and political news makes sense to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-best-test-of-whether-someone-is-extremely-stupid-or-extremely/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [If you're the best then take the test!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/if-you-re-the-best-then-take-the-test/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [If you the best, take the test!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-the-best-take-the-test/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So make the best of this test, and don't ask why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-day/so-make-the-best-of-this-test-and-don-t-ask-why/) [Green Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-day/) > [I love to learn I am so smart and best o n the test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kawana-gooding/i-love-to-learn-i-am-so-smart-and-best-o-n-the-test/) [Kawana Gooding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kawana-gooding/) > [When men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe... that the ultimate good desired is better reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/when-men-have-realized-that-time-has-upset-many-fighting-faiths-they/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [ \[W\]hen men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe . . . that the best test of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justice-holmes/w-hen-men-have-realized-that-time-has-upset-many-fighting-faiths-they/) [Justice Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justice-holmes/) > [“That which is true must be infinite and eternal. That is the one test of truth. It never decays, it is always the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/that-which-is-true-must-be-infinite-and-eternal-that-is-the-one-test/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Sincerity is not test of truth-no evidence of correctness of conduct. You may take poison sincerely believing it the needed medicine, but will it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/sincerity-is-not-test-of-truth-no-evidence-of-correctness-of-conduct/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) ## More by Lord Chesterfield > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I am in the pitiable situation of feeling all the force of temptation without having the strength to succumb to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/i-am-in-the-pitiable-situation-of-feeling-all-the-force-of-temptation/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Mankind is made up of inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/mankind-is-made-up-of-inconsistencies-and-no-man-acts-invariably-up/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Secret thoughts and an open countenance will take you safely the world over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/secret-thoughts-and-an-open-countenance-will-take-you-safely-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their luster:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/virtue-and-learning-like-gold-have-their-intrinsic-value-but-if-they/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/knowledge-is-a-comfortable-and-necessary-retreat-and-shelter-for-us/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Promptness is the soul of business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/promptness-is-the-soul-of-business/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Style is the dress of thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/style-is-the-dress-of-thoughts/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/it-is-commonly-said-that-ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-for-that/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/there-is-hardly-any-place-or-any-company-where-you-may-not-gain/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Assurance and intrepidity, under the white banner of seeming modesty, clear the way for merit, that would otherwise be discouraged by difficulties...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/assurance-and-intrepidity-under-the-white-banner-of-seeming-modesty/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/many-a-man-would-rather-you-heard-his-story-than-grant-his-request/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) [Explore all 378 Lord Chesterfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## More Ridicule quotes > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We must be talented, powerful and resilient creatures indeed given how much we manage to produce despite the constant undercutting, ridicule and needless censorship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/we-must-be-talented-powerful-and-resilient-creatures-indeed-given-how/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“Sharing is an act of trust, for ridicule is an ever-present risk on the Internet today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-takei/sharing-is-an-act-of-trust-for-ridicule-is-an-ever-present-risk-on/) [George Takei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-takei/) > [No matter how valuable, advice on how to succeed, coming from an unsuccessful man, will be received with poor grace or even ridicule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nathan-miller/no-matter-how-valuable-advice-on-how-to-succeed-coming-from-an/) [James Nathan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nathan-miller/) > [Treacherous assassins, enemies of the people, and worthy of everyone's ridicule are those who, under the pretext of guiding future generations, teach them an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-marti/treacherous-assassins-enemies-of-the-people-and-worthy-of-everyone-s/) [Jose Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-marti/) > [There was a time when one looked over one's shoulder with an ironical smile at the photographer and when photography as a profession seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-renger-patzsch/there-was-a-time-when-one-looked-over-one-s-shoulder-with-an-ironical/) [Albert Renger-Patzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-renger-patzsch/) > [One avoids Creolisms. Some families completely forbid Creole and mothers ridicule their children for speaking it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/one-avoids-creolisms-some-families-completely-forbid-creole-and/) [Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/) > [We are not being true to the artist as a man if we consider his art work junk simply because we differ with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-not-being-true-to-the-artist-as-a-man-if-we-consider-his-art/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/every-great-movement-must-experience-three-stages-ridicule-discussion/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) [Browse all 526 Ridicule quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ridicule is the best test of truth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lord Chesterfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ridicule" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/lord-chesterfield-757_ridicule_ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-81796_817968.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/lord-chesterfield-757_ridicule_ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-81796_817968.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/lord-chesterfield-757_ridicule_ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-81796_817968.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ridicule is the best test of truth.” — Lord Chesterfield", "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": "Lord Chesterfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ridicule is the best test of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth/#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 } } ] } ```