Whenever we push truth hard she runs to earth in contradiction in terms, that is to say, in falsehood. An essential contradiction in terms meets us at the end of every enquiry.
xii
In Alps and Sanctuaries (Chapter V) I implied that I was lying when I told the novice that Handel was a Catholic. But I was not lying; Handel was a Catholic, and so am I, and so is every well-disposed person. It shows how careful we ought to be when we lie—we can never be sure but what we may be speaking the truth.
xiii
Perhaps a little bit of absolute truth on any one question might prove a general solvent, and dissipate the universe.
xiv
Truth generally is kindness, but where the two diverge or collide, kindness should override truth.
Falsehood
i
Truth consists not in never lying but in knowing when to lie and when not to do so. De minimis non curat veritas.