Half truth Quote by William Mathews
“All maxims have their antagonist maxims; proverbs should be sold in pairs, a single one being but a half truth”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Proverbial Wisdom, 1887
Maxims are paired opposites, suggesting truth is often partial and needs balance.
In simple terms: Proverbs need a counter‑maxim to be whole.
Key Takeaway
Seek opposing viewpoints.
Themes
wisdom
language
balance
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
didactic
When to use this quote
- argumentation
- writing
- teaching
Key Concepts
dialectic
relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a counter‑maxim change meaning?
- When is a single proverb sufficient?
A Different Perspective
Not all maxims have clear opposites.
![“If only [people] understood that every thought is both false and true! False by one-sidenedness resulting from man's inability to embrace the whole truth, and true as an expression of one fact of human endeavor.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0e0/leo-tolstoy-55_thought_if-only-people-understood-that-every-tho_459186.jpg)
![“[A]s if it were not the masterful will which subjugates the forces of nature to be the genii of the lamp... that forces a life-thought into a pregnant word or phrase, and sends it ringing through the ages!” quote by William Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/47e/william-mathews-41205_age_a-s-if-it-were-not-the-masterful-will-wh_1127650.jpg)
