--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unfortunately, what is true is of little…" description: "\"“Unfortunately, what is true is of little consequence to most people. Our species is far more interested in being comforted by what is believable than ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/stephen-t-harper-90371_afraid_unfortunately-what-is-true-is-of-little_648926.jpg" --- # Unfortunately, what is true is of little consequence to… ![“Unfortunately, what is true is of little consequence to most people. Our species is far more interested in being comforted by what is believable than in being afraid of what is true.” quote by Stephen T. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/stephen-t-harper-90371_afraid_unfortunately-what-is-true-is-of-little_648926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/stephen-t-harper-90371_afraid_unfortunately-what-is-true-is-of-little_648926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/stephen-t-harper-90371_afraid_unfortunately-what-is-true-is-of-little_648926.jpg) > ““Unfortunately, what is true is of little consequence to most people. Our species is far more interested in being comforted by what is believable than in being afraid of what is true.”” [Stephen T. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-t-harper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People prefer comforting lies over uncomfortable truths, valuing belief over reality. **In simple terms:** Comfort beats truth. Key Takeaway Seek truth despite discomfort. Themes truth comfort belief human nature politics Mood reflective critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - debates - media consumption - personal decision‑making Key Concepts cognitive bias psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to comforting narratives? - Can truth be presented less threatening? A Different Perspective Truth may cause distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-true-1697094/) [Believable Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believable-afraid-5194132/) [Little Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-consequence-520440/) [Unfortunately True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunately-true-689598/) ## Related quotes > [It is sad but unfortunately true that man learns nothing from history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-sad-but-unfortunately-true-that-man-learns-nothing-from-history/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > ['Creep,' unfortunately, was one of my true stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tionne-watkins/creep-unfortunately-was-one-of-my-true-stories/) [Tionne Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tionne-watkins/) > [“I’m afraid it’s true. Look, why don’t you go see if the story’s in your paper, then call me back. The funeral’s gonna be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hanson/i-m-afraid-it-s-true-look-why-don-t-you-go-see-if-the-story-s-in-your/) [Lee Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hanson/) > [Being afraid something is true is accepting the possibility. Accepting the possibility is the first step to believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/being-afraid-something-is-true-is-accepting-the-possibility-accepting-2/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“People will believe anything if they are afraid that it might be true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayne-silvers/people-will-believe-anything-if-they-are-afraid-that-it-might-be-true/) [Shayne Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayne-silvers/) > [“Being afraid something is true is accepting the possibility. Accepting the possibility is the first step to believing. At least you are smart enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/being-afraid-something-is-true-is-accepting-the-possibility-accepting/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“right! I just saw Marc and David, not more than a month ago!” “I’m sorry, Julie. I’m afraid it’s true. Look, why don’t you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hanson/right-i-just-saw-marc-and-david-not-more-than-a-month-ago-i-m-sorry/) [Lee Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hanson/) > [“little of consequence is ever accomplished alone. High achievement is nearly always a joint effort,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/little-of-consequence-is-ever-accomplished-alone-high-achievement-is/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Compared to gardeners, I think it is generally agreed that others understand very little about anything of consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mitchell/compared-to-gardeners-i-think-it-is-generally-agreed-that-others/) [Henry Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mitchell/) > [“The errors of the policeman were no greater or careless or more egregious than mine. It’s just that my mistakes had comparatively little consequence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poe-ballantine/the-errors-of-the-policeman-were-no-greater-or-careless-or-more/) [Poe Ballantine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poe-ballantine/) > [What we think or what we know or what we believe is in the end of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/what-we-think-or-what-we-know-or-what-we-believe-is-in-the-end-of-2/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Though, when a people shall have become incapable of governing themselves and fit for a master, it is of little consequence from what quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/though-when-a-people-shall-have-become-incapable-of-governing/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“What we think, or what we know, or what we believe in, is at the end of the day of little consequence.The only consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/what-we-think-or-what-we-know-or-what-we-believe-in-is-at-the-end-of/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-think-or-what-we-know-or-what-we-believe-is-in-the-end-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## More by Stephen T. Harper > [“Her life had been too safe to need courage, and too easy to develop resolve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-t-harper/her-life-had-been-too-safe-to-need-courage-and-too-easy-to-develop/) [Stephen T. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-t-harper/) [Explore all 2 Stephen T. Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-t-harper/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Unfortunately, what is true is of little consequence to most people. 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