--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts…" description: "\"Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not. Never pander to weakness. If truth is too much for intelligent people and sweeps them away, let them go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/swami-vivekananda-53_atman_tell-the-truth-boldly-whether-it-hurts-o_2648770.jpg" --- # Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not. Never… ![“Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not. Never pander to weakness. If truth is too much for intelligent people and sweeps them away, let them go; the sooner the better.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/swami-vivekananda-53_atman_tell-the-truth-boldly-whether-it-hurts-o_2648770.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/swami-vivekananda-53_atman_tell-the-truth-boldly-whether-it-hurts-o_2648770.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/swami-vivekananda-53_atman_tell-the-truth-boldly-whether-it-hurts-o_2648770.jpg) > “Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not. Never pander to weakness. If truth is too much for intelligent people and sweeps them away, let them go; the sooner the better.” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates fearless honesty, urging people to speak truth even when uncomfortable, and to abandon those who cannot handle it. **In simple terms:** Speak truth boldly, even if it hurts. Key Takeaway Speak truth without fear. Themes integrity courage truthfulness Mood inspirational assertive Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - personal relationships - public discourse - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical philosophy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to soften truth? - How can we balance honesty with compassion? A Different Perspective Truth may alienate or hurt others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atman/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intelligent people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-people/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Saying the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-the-truth/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [Honesty is the rarest wealth anyone can possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/honesty-is-the-rarest-wealth-anyone-can-possess/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [People who are brutally honest get more satisfaction out of the brutality than out of the honesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-needham/people-who-are-brutally-honest-get-more-satisfaction-out-of-the/) [Richard J. Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-needham/) > [If you tell the truth, you don't need a long memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/if-you-tell-the-truth-you-don-t-need-a-long-memory/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [If a lie is only printed often enough, it becomes a quasi-truth, and if such a truth is repeated often enough, it becomes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-blagden/if-a-lie-is-only-printed-often-enough-it-becomes-a-quasi-truth-and-if/) Isa Blagden > [Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/give-him-a-mask-and-he-will-tell-you-the-truth/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“say the truth boldly,if it hurts others not ,if they want to go let them go as soon as possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surabhi/say-the-truth-boldly-if-it-hurts-others-not-if-they-want-to-go-let/) surabhi > [“Vulnerability may seem like a weakness, but in truth, it is a strength for being able to show you can be vulnerable, shows you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/vulnerability-may-seem-like-a-weakness-but-in-truth-it-is-a-strength/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [The clash of ideas is not weakness. Truth reaches its place when tussling with error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-pratt/the-clash-of-ideas-is-not-weakness-truth-reaches-its-place-when/) Richard Henry Pratt > [Proclaim the glory of the Atman with the roar of a lion, and impart fearlessness unto all beings by saying, 'Arise, awake, and stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/proclaim-the-glory-of-the-atman-with-the-roar-of-a-lion-and-impart/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [So long as there is desire or want, it is a sure sign that there is imperfection. A perfect, free being cannot have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/so-long-as-there-is-desire-or-want-it-is-a-sure-sign-that-there-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [If there is no strength in body and mind, the Atman cannot be realized. First you have to build the body by good nutritious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-there-is-no-strength-in-body-and-mind-the-atman-cannot-be-realized/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The weak, the fearful, the ignorant will never reach the Atman. You cannot undo what you have done; the effect must come. Face it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-weak-the-fearful-the-ignorant-will-never-reach-the-atman-you/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [This is the secret of spiritual life: to think that I am the Atman and not the body, and that the whole of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/this-is-the-secret-of-spiritual-life-to-think-that-i-am-the-atman-and/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Hate not the most abject sinner, look not to his exterior. Turn thy gaze inward, where resides the Paramatman. Proclaim to the whole world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/hate-not-the-most-abject-sinner-look-not-to-his-exterior-turn-thy/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Those who die, merely suffering the woes of life like cats and dogs, are they human beings? The worthy are those who, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/those-who-die-merely-suffering-the-woes-of-life-like-cats-and-dogs/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. Your mind, my mind, all these little minds, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-a-continuity-of-mind-as-the-yogis-call-it-the-mind-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Explore all 1,889 Swami Vivekananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More Atman quotes > [Two ideas are psychologically deep-rooted in man: self-protection and self-preservation. For self-protection man has created God, on whom he depends for his own protection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walpola-rahula/two-ideas-are-psychologically-deep-rooted-in-man-self-protection-and/) [Walpola Rahula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walpola-rahula/) > [Those who die, merely suffering the woes of life like cats and dogs, are they human beings? The worthy are those who, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/those-who-die-merely-suffering-the-woes-of-life-like-cats-and-dogs/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Hate not the most abject sinner, look not to his exterior. Turn thy gaze inward, where resides the Paramatman. Proclaim to the whole world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/hate-not-the-most-abject-sinner-look-not-to-his-exterior-turn-thy/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All that you seek is already within you. In Hinduism it is called the Atman, in Buddhism the pure Buddha-Mind. Christ said, 'the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/all-that-you-seek-is-already-within-you-in-hinduism-it-is-called-the/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [This is the secret of spiritual life: to think that I am the Atman and not the body, and that the whole of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/this-is-the-secret-of-spiritual-life-to-think-that-i-am-the-atman-and/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The weak, the fearful, the ignorant will never reach the Atman. You cannot undo what you have done; the effect must come. Face it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-weak-the-fearful-the-ignorant-will-never-reach-the-atman-you/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [If there is no strength in body and mind, the Atman cannot be realized. First you have to build the body by good nutritious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-there-is-no-strength-in-body-and-mind-the-atman-cannot-be-realized/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [By listening to your higher self, or Atman, you can return to the truth that's already inside of you and in the process change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/by-listening-to-your-higher-self-or-atman-you-can-return-to-the-truth/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Proclaim the glory of the Atman with the roar of a lion, and impart fearlessness unto all beings by saying, 'Arise, awake, and stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/proclaim-the-glory-of-the-atman-with-the-roar-of-a-lion-and-impart/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Hinduism is a living organism. One and indivisible at the root, it has grown into a vast tree with innumerable branches. Knowledge is limitless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/hinduism-is-a-living-organism-one-and-indivisible-at-the-root-it-has/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Who but the Atman is capable of removing the bonds of ignorance, passion and self-interested action?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-but-the-atman-is-capable-of-removing-the-bonds-of-ignorance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So long as there is desire or want, it is a sure sign that there is imperfection. A perfect, free being cannot have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/so-long-as-there-is-desire-or-want-it-is-a-sure-sign-that-there-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [That which is nearest is least observed. The Atman is the nearest of the near, therefore the careless and the unsteady mind gets no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/that-which-is-nearest-is-least-observed-the-atman-is-the-nearest-of/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [In the depth of the soul is the atman, the oversoul. And that oversoul is really love and compassion, peace, joy, and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/in-the-depth-of-the-soul-is-the-atman-the-oversoul-and-that-oversoul/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Jiva (individual soul) is the conscious ruler of this body, in whom the five life principles come into unity, and yet that very Jiva…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/jiva-individual-soul-is-the-conscious-ruler-of-this-body-in-whom-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Browse all 53 Atman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not. Never pander to weakness. 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