--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a new Declaration of Independence…" description: "\"“It is a new Declaration of Independence: No longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/tom-nichols-93464_anti-intellectualism_it-is-a-new-declaration-of-independence_973974.jpg" --- # It is a new Declaration of Independence: No longer do we… ![“It is a new Declaration of Independence: No longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones that aren’t true. All things are knowable and every opinion on any subject is as good as any other.” quote by Tom Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/tom-nichols-93464_anti-intellectualism_it-is-a-new-declaration-of-independence_973974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/tom-nichols-93464_anti-intellectualism_it-is-a-new-declaration-of-independence_973974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/tom-nichols-93464_anti-intellectualism_it-is-a-new-declaration-of-independence_973974.jpg) > ““It is a new Declaration of Independence: No longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones that aren’t true. All things are knowable and every opinion on any subject is as good as any other.”” Tom Nichols ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The new declaration claims all truths are self‑evident, even false ones, suggesting every opinion is equally valid and knowledge is always attainable. **In simple terms:** All opinions claimed equally valid, even false. Key Takeaway Question claims of absolute truth. Themes truth opinion relativism knowledge philosophy Mood skeptical critical philosophical Type Anti-intellectualism:1 Declaration:1 Freedom:1 Truth:1 Truths:1 Declaration Independence:1 Self Evident:1 Truths Self:1 New Declaration:1 When to use this quote - debate - education - media consumption Key Concepts epistemology critical thinking social discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern truth? - What limits to relativism? A Different Perspective Equating falsehood with truth undermines discourse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti-intellectualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-intellectualism/) [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) ## Related quotes > [We have had in our nation a well-celebrated Declaration of Independence. But our success as a country will depend upon a new 'Declaration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-have-had-in-our-nation-a-well-celebrated-declaration-of/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“A nation built on ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident’ cannot long survive when its people are taught that no truth is self-evident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brutus/a-nation-built-on-we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-cannot-long/) Brutus > [We hold these truths to be self-evident; All people are born creative; Endowed by our Creator with the inalienable right and responsibility to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-marx-hubbard/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-all-people-are-born-creative/) [Barbara Marx Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-marx-hubbard/) > [Our founders did not write that We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all US Persons are created equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/our-founders-did-not-write-that-we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Thomas Jefferson spoke of certain truths as self-evident. He did not say that these truths were self-explanatory or that they were self-operating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-martin-klotsche/thomas-jefferson-spoke-of-certain-truths-as-self-evident-he-did-not/) J. Martin Klotsche > [Travel challenges truths that we were raised thinking were self-evident and God-given. Leaving home, we learn other people find different truths to be self-evident.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/travel-challenges-truths-that-we-were-raised-thinking-were-self/) [Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/) > [“To throw obstacles in the way of a complete education is like putting out the eyes AND The happiest people I have known have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/to-throw-obstacles-in-the-way-of-a-complete-education-is-like-putting-2/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [That which is not, shall never be; that which is, shall never cease to be. To the wise, these truths are self-evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/that-which-is-not-shall-never-be-that-which-is-shall-never-cease-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The Declaration of Independence has been called, with some justice, the most revolutionary document in human history, in that it placed the individual person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bock/the-declaration-of-independence-has-been-called-with-some-justice-the/) Alan Bock > [Whereas, Slavery, throughout its entire existence in the United States is none other than a most barbarous, unprovoked, and unjustifiable War of one portion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/whereas-slavery-throughout-its-entire-existence-in-the-united-states/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) > [Many a revolution started with the actions of a few. Only 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. A few hanging together can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/many-a-revolution-started-with-the-actions-of-a-few-only-56-men/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [In name we had the Declaration of Independence in 1776; but we gave the lie by our acts to the words of the Declaration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-name-we-had-the-declaration-of-independence-in-1776-but-we-gave/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The Declaration of Independence, the words that launched our nation -- 1,300 words. The Bible, the word of God -- 773,000 words. The Tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbes/the-declaration-of-independence-the-words-that-launched-our-nation-1/) [Steve Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbes/) ## More by Tom Nichols > [“Expertise is not a parlor trick played with factoids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-nichols/expertise-is-not-a-parlor-trick-played-with-factoids/) Tom Nichols Explore all 2 Tom Nichols quotes ## More Anti-intellectualism quotes > [“The specific use of folks as an exclusionary and inclusionary signal, designed to make the speaker sound like one of the boys or girls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/the-specific-use-of-folks-as-an-exclusionary-and-inclusionary-signal/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“I love your body 'cause I've lost my mind If you want someone to talk to, you're wasting your time If you want someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-love-your-body-cause-i-ve-lost-my-mind-if-you-want-someone-to-talk/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [“Since the time of Voltaire and two-chamber Government, which is at bottom simply distrust and personal self-examination, and gives the popular mind that bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/since-the-time-of-voltaire-and-two-chamber-government-which-is-at/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [“As long as the acquisition of knowledge is rendered habitually repugnant, so long will there be a prevailing tendency to discontinue it when free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/as-long-as-the-acquisition-of-knowledge-is-rendered-habitually/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“The fact that the stupid person is often stubborn must not blind us to the fact that he is not independent. 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