Abandon Quote by Thomas Pynchon
“Who claims Truth, Truth abandons. History is hir'd, or coerc'd, only in Interests that must ever prove base. She is too innocent, to be left within the reach of anyone in Power,- who need but touch her, and all her Credit is in the instant vanish'd, as if it had never been. She needs rather to be tended lovingly and honorably by fabulists and counterfeiters, Ballad-Mongers and Cranks of ev'ry Radius, Masters of Disguise to provide her the Costume, Toilette, and Bearing, and Speech nimble enough to keep her beyond the Desires, or even the Curiosity, of Government.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Gravity’s Rainbow, 1973
Truth is manipulated by power; it must be protected through art and deception to survive.
In simple terms: Power distorts truth; art can guard it.
Key Takeaway
Guard truth with creative vigilance.
Themes
power
truth
manipulation
art
Mood
cynical
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- media bias
- government propaganda
- creative resistance
Key Concepts
political satire
philosophical critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Who decides which truth is protected?
- Can deception ever truly preserve truth?
A Different Perspective
Artistic protection may not reach all audiences.
