--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alas, respect for the truth compels…" description: "\"“Alas, respect for the truth compels perfect honesty”\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/neil-gaiman-29_honesty_alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfe_2619953.jpg" --- # Alas, respect for the truth compels perfect honesty ![“Alas, respect for the truth compels perfect honesty” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/neil-gaiman-29_honesty_alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfe_2619953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/neil-gaiman-29_honesty_alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfe_2619953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/neil-gaiman-29_honesty_alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfe_2619953.jpg) > ““Alas, respect for the truth compels perfect honesty”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth demands absolute honesty, compelling one to be completely sincere. **In simple terms:** Truth forces perfect honesty. Key Takeaway Commit to unwavering honesty. Themes truth integrity honesty Mood serious reflective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - journalism - personal relationships - public speaking Key Concepts philosophy ethics writing Questions to Reflect On - When is full honesty harmful? - How to balance truth with compassion? A Different Perspective Absolute honesty may conflict with social tact or safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alas Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas-respect-2102084/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Perfect Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-honesty-1849716/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-truth-877650/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Compels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-compels-2102083/) ## Related quotes > [Without wishing in the slightest degree to disparage the skill and labour of breadmakers by trade, truth compels us to assert our conviction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-acton/without-wishing-in-the-slightest-degree-to-disparage-the-skill-and/) [Eliza Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-acton/) > [True universalists are not those who preach global tolerance of differences and all-encompassing unity, but those who engage in a passionate struggle for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/true-universalists-are-not-those-who-preach-global-tolerance-of/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [“I said with perfect honesty, "I have no intention of trying to take these suckers out by myself, no.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/i-said-with-perfect-honesty-i-have-no-intention-of-trying-to-take/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [No one is perfect but without honesty you've got nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/no-one-is-perfect-but-without-honesty-you-ve-got-nothing/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [“it is difficult to adjust our outer and inner life with perfect honesty to all!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/it-is-difficult-to-adjust-our-outer-and-inner-life-with-perfect/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [If they don't respect you with truth and honesty,they don't deserve you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-they-don-t-respect-you-with-truth-and-honesty-they-don-t-deserve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Respect for the Truth is an acquired taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-van-doren/respect-for-the-truth-is-an-acquired-taste/) [Mark Van Doren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-van-doren/) > [“Arrogance is shown in one's respect to the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/arrogance-is-shown-in-one-s-respect-to-the-truth/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [“Don't waste your time trying to provide people with proof of deceit, in order to keep their love, win their love or salvage their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-provide-people-with-proof-of-deceit/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I have too much respect for the truth to drag it out on every trifling occasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-too-much-respect-for-the-truth-to-drag-it-out-on-every/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I enjoy poetry where I can talk as bizarre as I please, but theology or philosophy, I always respect the truth by taking it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/i-enjoy-poetry-where-i-can-talk-as-bizarre-as-i-please-but-theology/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [I respect the truth too much to drag it out on every occasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-respect-the-truth-too-much-to-drag-it-out-on-every-occasion/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“Sincerity Sincerity is the first of the virtues. The lie is the weapon of the weak. Respect for truth is the virtue of adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-jelbert/sincerity-sincerity-is-the-first-of-the-virtues-the-lie-is-the-weapon/) [Will Jelbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-jelbert/) > [If I wasn't going to be a world-famous journalist and if I didn't have such respect for truth and justice, I could be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/if-i-wasn-t-going-to-be-a-world-famous-journalist-and-if-i-didn-t/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [My father once told me that respect for truth comes close to being the basis for all morality. 'Something cannot emerge from nothing,' he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/my-father-once-told-me-that-respect-for-truth-comes-close-to-being/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Honesty quotes > [The greatest gift you can give to those around you is honesty. Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [Honesty in politics is the result of strength; hypocrisy is the result of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/honesty-in-politics-is-the-result-of-strength-hypocrisy-is-the-result/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-quality-an-artist-must-have-is-objectivity-in-judging-his-work/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [I think honesty is a big part. Because when you sing live, you want the audience to believe you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pixie-lott/i-think-honesty-is-a-big-part-because-when-you-sing-live-you-want-the/) [Pixie Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pixie-lott/) > [Anything well written with good language and clarity and honesty is worth doing. It comes out of the same tradition as Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/anything-well-written-with-good-language-and-clarity-and-honesty-is/) [Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi and the radical Islamist mullahs ruling Iran share many similarities, but honesty and negotiating in good faith are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/former-libyan-dictator-moammar-gadhafi-and-the-radical-islamist/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [“An honest man is a debtless man, he doesn't owe anyone anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-honest-man-is-a-debtless-man-he-doesn-t-owe-anyone-anything/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/america-today-is-a-confused-society-caught-up-in-a-terror-war-a/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [There's a need for music that has urgency and emotional honesty. That's why people are reintroducing themselves to guitar music - that instrument has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/there-s-a-need-for-music-that-has-urgency-and-emotional-honesty-that/) [Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/) [Browse all 4,388 Honesty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Alas, respect for the truth compels perfect honesty”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Gaiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfect-honesty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Honesty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfect-honesty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/neil-gaiman-29_honesty_alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfe_2619953.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/neil-gaiman-29_honesty_alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfe_2619953.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/neil-gaiman-29_honesty_alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfe_2619953.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Alas, respect for the truth compels perfect honesty” — Neil Gaiman", "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": "Neil Gaiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Alas, respect for the truth compels...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfect-honesty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/alas-respect-for-the-truth-compels-perfect-honesty/#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 } } ] } ```