Truth, Half-Truth, and Subtle Suggestion

Words are often overworked to exaggerate or overemphasize, and often also to deceive by half-truth or by subtle suggestion. A half-truth can in fact obscure the whole truth. A half-truth can effectively suggest a falsehood. The persistent repeating of half-truths can, for example, make things seem desirable or harmless which are in reality unwholesome and injurious, merely by a certain sophistry or suggestion.

“If any man seeks for greatness,” said Horace Mann, “let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both.”

It is not glamor or surface considerations that make for greatness⎯or for truth⎯and not necessarily what is popular, or fashionable, or generally being done. These are often mere surfaces to cover a shallow substance. Words are often deliberately used to create an image merely for effect, merely for front. Sometimes words are deliberately made to create misunderstanding⎯to distort and deceive and to create a false sense of security. There are some phrases from the Psalms suggestive of this subject: “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.”

As with words and ideas, so with products or practices urged upon people: they must be honest products or practices⎯honest in purpose, beneficial in effect. They must be what they are said to be, must do what they are said to do. Guarantees or agreements must be words of truth and of actual intention. They must meet the final test of fact: whether or not what is said to be is or is not so.

Beyond words, beyond half-truths, beyond cleverness, concealment, and subtle suggestion we always need the final test of fact⎯what is intended, what is done, what is said or suggested, what actually is or is not so. Half-truths or deceptive suggestions are never safe substitutes for the whole truth⎯for honest, open facts.