--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world is to be carried forward by…" description: "\"The world is to be carried forward by truth, which at first offends, which wins its way by degrees, which the many hate and would rejoice to crush.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/william-ellery-channing-3428_crush_the-world-is-to-be-carried-forward-by-tr_2309168.jpg" --- # The world is to be carried forward by truth, which at… ![“The world is to be carried forward by truth, which at first offends, which wins its way by degrees, which the many hate and would rejoice to crush.” quote by William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/william-ellery-channing-3428_crush_the-world-is-to-be-carried-forward-by-tr_2309168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/william-ellery-channing-3428_crush_the-world-is-to-be-carried-forward-by-tr_2309168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/william-ellery-channing-3428_crush_the-world-is-to-be-carried-forward-by-tr_2309168.jpg) > “The world is to be carried forward by truth, which at first offends, which wins its way by degrees, which the many hate and would rejoice to crush.” [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth initially offends, but gradually wins acceptance; many resist it, yet it persists and ultimately triumphs. **In simple terms:** Truth is uncomfortable at first, then spreads. Key Takeaway Stand firm for truth. Themes truth resistance progress Mood thoughtful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political activism - journalism - education reform - personal integrity Key Concepts Moral philosophy social change Questions to Reflect On - Why do people resist uncomfortable truths? - How can we promote truth without alienating others? A Different Perspective Truth may be suppressed, delaying its impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carried Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carried-forward-2720611/) [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Forward Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward-truth-5478626/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Offends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offends/) [Rejoice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejoice/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Offends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-offends-1023742/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“If the truth offends you, you are probably on the wrong side of it. Lakesha M Ruise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakesha-ruise/if-the-truth-offends-you-you-are-probably-on-the-wrong-side-of-it/) [Lakesha Ruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakesha-ruise/) > [When the truth offends no one it should come from our lips as naturally as the air we breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/when-the-truth-offends-no-one-it-should-come-from-our-lips-as/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [You are who you are at this moment because of everything that's ever happened to you, everything that you carried forward for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-are-who-you-are-at-this-moment-because-of-everything-that-s-ever/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“The reader should be carried forward, not merely or chiefly by the mechanical impulse of curiosity, or by a restless desire to arrive at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-reader-should-be-carried-forward-not-merely-or-chiefly-by-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“inevitability carried him forward, and fear held him back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-enright/inevitability-carried-him-forward-and-fear-held-him-back/) [Larry Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-enright/) > [“The truth offends foolish people because they are always too busy deceiving themselves. They think insults, slander, and vulgarity are intelligence, and believe rudeness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/the-truth-offends-foolish-people-because-they-are-always-too-busy/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [Truth offends everyone outside its definitions. 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I divine something in you which offends the vulgar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/your-career-will-be-a-painful-one-i-divine-something-in-you-which/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [A gentleman never offends unintentionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-gentleman-never-offends-unintentionally/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [It’s just what they are — they’re jokes…most jokes are about Jewish people, rednecks, black folks…I can’t determine what offends another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-deen/it-s-just-what-they-are-they-re-jokes-most-jokes-are-about-jewish/) [Paula Deen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-deen/) > [Cable is not bound because people pay for it. It's literally a choice, that's the operative word. 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Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) ## More by William Ellery Channing > [The reveries of youth, in which so much energy is wasted, are the yearnings of a Spirit made for what it has not found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/the-reveries-of-youth-in-which-so-much-energy-is-wasted-are-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [A man may quarrel with himself alone; that is, by controverting his better instincts and knowledge when brought face to face with temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-may-quarrel-with-himself-alone-that-is-by-controverting-his/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/science-and-art-may-invent-splendid-modes-of-illuminating-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Men are never very wise and select in the exercise of a new power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/men-are-never-very-wise-and-select-in-the-exercise-of-a-new-power/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [All virtue lies in individual action, in inward energy, in self determination. 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One great thought breathed into a man may regenerate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/ideas-are-the-mightiest-influence-on-earth-one-great-thought-breathed/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/to-live-content-with-small-means-to-seek-elegance-rather-than-luxury/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [“god be thanked for books. they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/god-be-thanked-for-books-they-are-the-voices-of-the-distant-and-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Perhaps in our presence, the most heroic deed on earth is done in some silent spirit, the loftiest purpose cherished, the most generous sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/perhaps-in-our-presence-the-most-heroic-deed-on-earth-is-done-in-some/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Each of us is meant to have a character all our own, to be what no other can exactly be, and do what no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/each-of-us-is-meant-to-have-a-character-all-our-own-to-be-what-no/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) [Explore all 130 William Ellery Channing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) ## More Crush quotes > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Each child’s story is worthy of telling. There shouldn’t be a sliding scale of death. The weight of it is crushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/each-child-s-story-is-worthy-of-telling-there-shouldn-t-be-a-sliding/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [I wish that I coul be her. but in the mean time dont forget about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzie-ann/i-wish-that-i-coul-be-her-but-in-the-mean-time-dont-forget-about-me/) [Kenzie-ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzie-ann/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I already know that u know that I like u, the question is Wat r u going to do with that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-already-know-that-u-know-that-i-like-u-the-question-is-wat-r-u/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“My mom believed that you make your own luck. Over the stove she had hung these old, maroon painted letters that spell out, “MANIFEST.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-laybourne/my-mom-believed-that-you-make-your-own-luck-over-the-stove-she-had/) [Emmy Laybourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-laybourne/) > [I'm very disturbed to find out that the leader of the Townies has a soul and I'm beginning to develop a bit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-very-disturbed-to-find-out-that-the-leader-of-the-townies-has-a/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“Connor Crane was currently the secret crush of half the female HHH population. And a couple of the males, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-halliday/connor-crane-was-currently-the-secret-crush-of-half-the-female-hhh/) [Gemma Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-halliday/) > [My dream would be to hear rocks at my window n to look out and see u just standing there, in the pouring rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blondie/my-dream-would-be-to-hear-rocks-at-my-window-n-to-look-out-and-see-u/) [Blondie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blondie/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. 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