--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If an offense come out of the truth…" description: "\"If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed.\" — Thomas Hardy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/thomas-hardy-410_concealed_if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-bett_3038216.jpg" --- # If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the… ![“If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed.” quote by Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/thomas-hardy-410_concealed_if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-bett_3038216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/thomas-hardy-410_concealed_if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-bett_3038216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/thomas-hardy-410_concealed_if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-bett_3038216.jpg) > “If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed.” [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If truth causes offense, it is better to offend than to hide truth. **In simple terms:** Truth should be spoken even if it offends. Key Takeaway Prioritize honesty over comfort. Themes ethics truth courage Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical literary When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - journalism Key Concepts moral philosophy communication Questions to Reflect On - When is truth more harmful than helpful? - How to balance honesty with empathy? A Different Perspective May cause unnecessary conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-offense-2418384/) [Come Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-truth-625664/) [Concealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concealed/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-better/) [Truth Concealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-concealed-1144413/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) ## Related quotes > [There's always guys getting better on offense. Guys that are great challenges for me on the defensive end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/there-s-always-guys-getting-better-on-offense-guys-that-are-great/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [Bobby Knight told me this: 'There is nothing that a good defense cannot beat a better offense.' In other words a good offense wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/bobby-knight-told-me-this-there-is-nothing-that-a-good-defense-cannot/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [“It is a dreadful truth, but it is a truth that cannot be concealed; in ability, in dexterity, in the distinctness of their views,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/it-is-a-dreadful-truth-but-it-is-a-truth-that-cannot-be-concealed-in/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“If God were to hold all Truth concealed in his right hand, and in his left only the steady and diligent drive for Truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-lessing/if-god-were-to-hold-all-truth-concealed-in-his-right-hand-and-in-his/) [Gotthold Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-lessing/) > [But who will dare to speak the truth out clear? The few who anything of truth have learned, And foolishly did not keep truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/but-who-will-dare-to-speak-the-truth-out-clear-the-few-who-anything/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [In some ways, I think it's the closest that we come to the truth — is in the form of fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-lalami/in-some-ways-i-think-it-s-the-closest-that-we-come-to-the-truth-is-in/) [Laila Lalami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-lalami/) > [Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/jesus-is-happy-to-come-with-us-as-truth-is-happy-to-be-spoken-as-life/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [The further you get from power, the closer you come to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-marshall/the-further-you-get-from-power-the-closer-you-come-to-the-truth/) [Josh Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-marshall/) > [“We will have to trust too-that the world won't end, that tomorrow will come, and that truth will come too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-will-have-to-trust-too-that-the-world-won-t-end-that-tomorrow-will/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [The fact is, the truth will come out. The truth will come out when it's time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/the-fact-is-the-truth-will-come-out-the-truth-will-come-out-when-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [The best stories come out of the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/the-best-stories-come-out-of-the-truth/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [I always come from truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-always-come-from-truth/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [By doubting we come at truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/by-doubting-we-come-at-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“I had come with truth and human kindness in my heart and that I was leaving it on his sheets now to remind him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-had-come-with-truth-and-human-kindness-in-my-heart-and-that-i-was/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [The clearest actions come from truth, not obligation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/the-clearest-actions-come-from-truth-not-obligation/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) ## More by Thomas Hardy > [“He grew away from old associations, and saw something new in life and humanity. Secondarily, he made close acquaintance with phenomena which he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/he-grew-away-from-old-associations-and-saw-something-new-in-life-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“She was in a sound sleep, Jude, dying of anxiety lest she should have caught a chill which might permanently injure her, was glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/she-was-in-a-sound-sleep-jude-dying-of-anxiety-lest-she-should-have/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [You ride well, but you don't kiss nicely at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/you-ride-well-but-you-don-t-kiss-nicely-at-all/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [You could sometimes see her twelfth year in her cheeks, or her ninth sparkling from her eyes; and even her fifth would flit over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/you-could-sometimes-see-her-twelfth-year-in-her-cheeks-or-her-ninth/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“It was mid-May time, bringing with it weather not, perhaps, quite so blooming as that assumed to be natural to the month by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/it-was-mid-may-time-bringing-with-it-weather-not-perhaps-quite-so/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [If Galileo had said in verse that the world moved, the inquisition might have let him alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-galileo-had-said-in-verse-that-the-world-moved-the-inquisition/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Some folk want their luck buttered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/some-folk-want-their-luck-buttered/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Measurement of life should be proportioned rather to the intensity of the experience than to its actual length.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/measurement-of-life-should-be-proportioned-rather-to-the-intensity-of/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“I was court-martialed in my absence, and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/i-was-court-martialed-in-my-absence-and-sentenced-to-death-in-my/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“It being the first time in his life that he had touched female fingers under water, Dick duly registered the sensation as rather a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/it-being-the-first-time-in-his-life-that-he-had-touched-female/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“As soon as she could discern the outline of the house, it had all its old effect upon Tess's imagination. Part of her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/as-soon-as-she-could-discern-the-outline-of-the-house-it-had-all-its/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [ The perfect woman, you see \[is\] a working-woman; not an idler; not a fine lady; but one who \[uses\] her hands and her head… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-perfect-woman-you-see-is-a-working-woman-not-an-idler-not-a-fine/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“The Sinister Spirit sneered: 'It had to be!' And again the Spirit of Pity whispered, 'Why?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-sinister-spirit-sneered-it-had-to-be-and-again-the-spirit-of-pity/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“Justice” was done, and the President of the Immortals (in Aeschylean phrase) had ended his sport with Tess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/justice-was-done-and-the-president-of-the-immortals-in-aeschylean/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) [Explore all 561 Thomas Hardy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) ## More Concealed quotes > [The grain of real knowledge is concealed in a vast deal of esoteric chaff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-rupert-hall/the-grain-of-real-knowledge-is-concealed-in-a-vast-deal-of-esoteric/) [Alfred Rupert Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-rupert-hall/) > [Cold calculation, random spots of color, mathematically exact construction (clearly shown or concealed), drawing that is now silent and now strident . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-puccini/cold-calculation-random-spots-of-color-mathematically-exact/) [Giacomo Puccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-puccini/) > [A sin concealed is half-pardoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italian-proverb/a-sin-concealed-is-half-pardoned/) [Italian Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italian-proverb/) > [“People who have attended Concealed Carry classes, and those already licensed, typically seem to demonstrate a higher degree of courtesy, responsibility and respect. Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/) [Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/) > [Whoever says State necessarily says domination, and, consequently, slavery; a State without slavery, open or concealed, is inconceivable: that is why we are enemies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/whoever-says-state-necessarily-says-domination-and-consequently/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [Look into any man's heart you please, and you will always find, in every one, at least one black spot which he has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/look-into-any-man-s-heart-you-please-and-you-will-always-find-in/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“E liza adjusted her Ministry-issue bullet-resistant corset, and her hands absently came to rest on where her weapons were concealed. Glancing out the window,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-ballantine/e-liza-adjusted-her-ministry-issue-bullet-resistant-corset-and-her/) [Philippa Ballantine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-ballantine/) > [there are few things that are more endearing than the grace of listening with attention; indeed, it is more than endearing, it is impressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/there-are-few-things-that-are-more-endearing-than-the-grace-of/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [I don't care if they're licensed legal firearms, people who are not highly trained putting guns in their hands is a recipe for disaster.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-mccarthy/i-don-t-care-if-they-re-licensed-legal-firearms-people-who-are-not/) [Garry McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-mccarthy/) > [Fear is concealed in smiles and flashing teeth. 'Please say you still love me,' the kings and queens are really saying. And, when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/fear-is-concealed-in-smiles-and-flashing-teeth-please-say-you-still/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [If the art is concealed, it succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/if-the-art-is-concealed-it-succeeds/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/thoughtcrime-was-not-a-thing-that-could-be-concealed-forever-you/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Recently I was reading somewhere or other an Italian curio-dealer who attempted to sell a 17th century crucifix to J.P. Morgan. Inside it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/recently-i-was-reading-somewhere-or-other-an-italian-curio-dealer-who/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Covering the civil-rights movement was a mind- and eye-opener for me. Houston was a segregated society, as was Texas as a whole - some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/covering-the-civil-rights-movement-was-a-mind-and-eye-opener-for-me/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [You kids have fun, and be home by Thanksgiving!" our parents would call to us on Halloween night, as we staggered out the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-kids-have-fun-and-be-home-by-thanksgiving-our-parents-would-call/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) [Browse all 332 Concealed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concealed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Hardy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-better-is-it-that-the-offense/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concealed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-better-is-it-that-the-offense/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/thomas-hardy-410_concealed_if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-bett_3038216.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/thomas-hardy-410_concealed_if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-bett_3038216.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/thomas-hardy-410_concealed_if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-bett_3038216.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed.” — Thomas Hardy", "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 Hardy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If an offense come out of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-better-is-it-that-the-offense/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-an-offense-come-out-of-the-truth-better-is-it-that-the-offense/#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 } } ] } ```