---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The dust of controversy is merely the…"
description: "\"The dust of controversy is merely the falsehood flying off.\" — Thomas Carlyle"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/thomas-carlyle-207_controversy_the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-fa_3207567.png"
---

#  The dust of controversy is merely the falsehood flying off.

![“The dust of controversy is merely the falsehood flying off.” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/thomas-carlyle-207_controversy_the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-fa_3207567.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/thomas-carlyle-207_controversy_the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-fa_3207567.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/thomas-carlyle-207_controversy_the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-fa_3207567.png)

> “The dust of controversy is merely the falsehood flying off.”

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Controversy often disguises falsehoods that are being spread.

**In simple terms:** Controversy hides lies.

Key Takeaway

Question the truth behind disputes.

Themes

truth controversy critical thinking

Mood

analytical skeptical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- political debates
- social media
- public discourse

Key Concepts

philosophy media literacy

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do people cling to controversy?
- How can you discern truth in heated arguments?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [There has been a controversy started of late, much better worth examination, concerning the general foundation of Morals; whether they be derived from Reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/there-has-been-a-controversy-started-of-late-much-better-worth/)

[David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/)

> [There is no learned man but will confess be hath much profited by reading controversies,--his senses awakened, his judgment sharpened, and the truth which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-learned-man-but-will-confess-be-hath-much-profited-by/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Husain and his companions were rigid believers in God. They illustrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-best-lesson-which-we-get-from-the-tragedy-of-karbala-is-that/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Blessed be the God's voice; for it is true, and falsehoods have to cease before it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/blessed-be-the-god-s-voice-for-it-is-true-and-falsehoods-have-to/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Affectation is the product of falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/affectation-is-the-product-of-falsehood/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [With union grounded on falsehood and ordering us to speak and act lies, we will not have anything to do. Peace? A brutal lethargy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/with-union-grounded-on-falsehood-and-ordering-us-to-speak-and-act/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [A lie should be trampled on and extinguished wherever found. I am for fumigating the atmosphere when I suspect that falsehood, like pestilence, breathes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/a-lie-should-be-trampled-on-and-extinguished-wherever-found-i-am-for/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Science does not enter a chaotic society to put order into it anymore, to simplify its composition, and to put an end to controversies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-latour/science-does-not-enter-a-chaotic-society-to-put-order-into-it-anymore/)

[Bruno Latour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-latour/)

> [Sometimes as a player you do not want to get into a controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/sometimes-as-a-player-you-do-not-want-to-get-into-a-controversy/)

[Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/)

> [Controversy for the sake of controversy is sin. Controversy for the sake of truth is a divine command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-martin/controversy-for-the-sake-of-controversy-is-sin-controversy-for-the/)

[Walter Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-martin/)

> [Some people want to have controversy between the races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/some-people-want-to-have-controversy-between-the-races/)

[Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/)

> [Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way - and the fools know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/controversy-equalizes-fools-and-wise-men-in-the-same-way-and-the/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/)

> [My pride is the length of time I have worked in the industry without any major controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/my-pride-is-the-length-of-time-i-have-worked-in-the-industry-without/)

[Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/)

> [ As we have seen after every other \[Donald\] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/)

[Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/)

> [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/)

[Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/)

## More by Thomas Carlyle

> [O thou that pinest in the imprisonment of the Actual, and criest bitterly to the gods for a kingdom wherein to rule and create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/o-thou-that-pinest-in-the-imprisonment-of-the-actual-and-criest/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sadder-proof-can-be-given-by-a-man-of-his-own-littleness-than/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-sincere-alone-can-recognize-sincerity/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-glory-of-a-workman-still-more-of-a-master-workman-that-he-does/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Insurrection, never so necessary, is a most sad necessity; and governors who wait for that to instruct them are surely getting into the fatalest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/insurrection-never-so-necessary-is-a-most-sad-necessity-and-governors/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [What is philosophy but a continual battle against custom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/what-is-philosophy-but-a-continual-battle-against-custom/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Let Time and Chance combine, combine! Let Time and Chance combine! The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-time-and-chance-combine-combine-let-time-and-chance-combine-the/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Thought will not work except in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/thought-will-not-work-except-in-silence/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [The public is anold woman.Let her maunderand mumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-public-is-anold-woman-let-her-maunderand-mumble/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Does not every true man feel that he is himself made higher by doing reverence to what is really above him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/does-not-every-true-man-feel-that-he-is-himself-made-higher-by-doing/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [The press is the fourth estate of the realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-press-is-the-fourth-estate-of-the-realm/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

[Explore all 917 Thomas Carlyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

## More Controversy quotes

> [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/)

[Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/)

> [ As we have seen after every other \[Donald\] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/)

[Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/)

> [My pride is the length of time I have worked in the industry without any major controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/my-pride-is-the-length-of-time-i-have-worked-in-the-industry-without/)

[Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/)

> [Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way - and the fools know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/controversy-equalizes-fools-and-wise-men-in-the-same-way-and-the/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/)

> [Some people want to have controversy between the races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/some-people-want-to-have-controversy-between-the-races/)

[Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/)

> [Controversy for the sake of controversy is sin. Controversy for the sake of truth is a divine command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-martin/controversy-for-the-sake-of-controversy-is-sin-controversy-for-the/)

[Walter Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-martin/)

> [Sometimes as a player you do not want to get into a controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/sometimes-as-a-player-you-do-not-want-to-get-into-a-controversy/)

[Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/)

> [Science does not enter a chaotic society to put order into it anymore, to simplify its composition, and to put an end to controversies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-latour/science-does-not-enter-a-chaotic-society-to-put-order-into-it-anymore/)

[Bruno Latour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-latour/)

> [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [My stress on the truth in sexual stereotypes and on the biologic basis of sex differences is sure to cause controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/my-stress-on-the-truth-in-sexual-stereotypes-and-on-the-biologic/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [Controversy sells, politics sell, all that type of stuff sells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/controversy-sells-politics-sell-all-that-type-of-stuff-sells/)

[Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/)

> [Please don't think that I got married on TV for publicity. I already enjoyed a huge fan following, courtesy my character in Bidaai.' Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/please-don-t-think-that-i-got-married-on-tv-for-publicity-i-already/)

[Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/)

> [There's a lot of controversy online, some people say i'm a genius and other say i'm hugely talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/there-s-a-lot-of-controversy-online-some-people-say-i-m-a-genius-and/)

[Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/)

> [Gossip is never fatal until it is denied. Gossip goes on about every human being alive and about all the dead that are alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/gossip-is-never-fatal-until-it-is-denied-gossip-goes-on-about-every/)

[Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/)

> [I think controversy is an interesting thing in that it usually goes hand in hand with starting conversations that surround taboo or under-discussed topics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/i-think-controversy-is-an-interesting-thing-in-that-it-usually-goes/)

[Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/)

[Browse all 604 Controversy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The dust of controversy is merely the falsehood flying off.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Carlyle"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-falsehood-flying-off/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Controversy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-falsehood-flying-off/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/thomas-carlyle-207_controversy_the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-fa_3207567.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/thomas-carlyle-207_controversy_the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-fa_3207567.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/thomas-carlyle-207_controversy_the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-fa_3207567.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The dust of controversy is merely the falsehood flying off.” — Thomas Carlyle",
                "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": "Thomas Carlyle",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The dust of controversy is merely...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-falsehood-flying-off/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-dust-of-controversy-is-merely-the-falsehood-flying-off/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```