Edwin Way Teale Quote

"It is morally as bad not to care
whether a thing is true or not,
so long as it makes you feel good,
as it is not to care how you got your money
as long as you have it."

by:	Edwin Way Teale (1889-1980)
Source:	Circle of the Seasons, 1953
Rating:
Categories:	Ethics, Honor, Integrity, Money, Truth
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I wish more people in local history felt the same. I have been told outright, both by ones who ran historical societies and others who ran museums, that the opposite is true.  -- Peter, Ogden Dunes      1
-- Anonymous, Reston, VA US
I agree, even though the truth is often as unavailable as money.  -- David L. Rosenthal, Hollywood
there is no objective truth  -- andi, bakersfield, ca
Within a given context, there is much truth.  -- Anonymous      1
Dead on Andi! Dead on Anonymous - 'truth', by definition, is 'fidelity' to something. The degree of truth is subjective, in any context, in its relationship to that 'something' even if that 'something' is just a concept like a deity, a standard of behavior, or a standard of accuracy. Truth: Fidelity to an original or a standard. - AHD  -- Terry Berg, Occidental, CA      1
It would seem to me that those with little care for truth and those for little care for the source or circumstance of their pecuniary gain are kindred of spirit and on much the same moral, ethical and principled plane. Sounds quite a bit like many of those that inhabit the halls of Congress.  -- zeitgeist, los angeles
In a practical sense, there are those, even of this blog, that would justify rape if the majority would condone it, after all, in satisfying their needs, it would make them feel good; and, they would rationalize the acceptance of stolen money to support a life style. Immorality, a lack of integrity, rejection of truth and unlawful behavior are a slippery slope that expands and consumes the being if the actively pursued standard of equity, mercy, charity, love, truth, law and justice is not the absolute foundation and paramount desire.  -- Mike, Norwalk      2
I agree with Anonymous that within a given context there is much truth. Many believe the discussions about the National finances of the USA is rampant with opinion, untruth, or just loose speculation. That is not correct. Issues like the tax gap or annual shortfall of taxes due to cheating, the exact figure of the defict and the National Debt are hard fast numbers. We are all entitled to our opinions we are never entitled to our own facts! In these discussions unfortuantley feelings, emotions are generally given more weight than intellect which is facts and knowledge.  -- Waffler, Smith      2
Truth is defined by those with the Power. Power is attained by those with the resources to acquire it. The resources are typically 'taken' from the weak or ignorant. The weak and ignorant are doomed to speak of injustice and definition of "Truth". But the pendulum occasionally swings in the other direction. When the weak become strong by banding together under a common cause and then have the Power to institute a new "Truth".  -- Jeremy, Kansas      1
When the ends justify the means, there is no law but 'might makes right.' Pretty serious stuff. Mike and Jeremy nail it. Waffler is simply speaking about himself -- ignorance is his creed. Without real integrity, the nation is doomed to servitude.  -- E Archer, NYC      2
If you want to be powerful and influential gain knowledge and intellect on a given subject. Al Gore did not become a scion of the environmental issue by being ignorant of it. Those who are jealous of power are generally those who have no knowledge and facts concerning the issues. Compare to Archer on this site.  -- Waffler, Smith      1
Whenever Waffler is pointed to the facts, he changes the subject. Gore is another example of someone who is profiting immensely from the 'climate change' political take-over. And he will rake in billions from the carbon tax credit scam. He 'buys' his carbon offsets from a company he owns and profits from, Generation Investment Management. His own home is an energy hog. He is a hypocrite who is making millions from his speaking engagements and will make millions more from those who buy their carbon offsets from him! Gloablists love this BS because it has created an entirely new way to tax everyone AND control who will be able to get energy. But because it is cloaked under the guise of enivronmentalism, he can feel good about it. Waffler, get your head out of the sand -- you are so gullible.  -- E Archer, NYC      3
You proved my point explicitly Archer, "Those who are jealous of power are those who have no knowledge" Your jealousy of Gore is breathtaking in its revelation of your jealousy and lack of knowledge.  -- Waffler, Smith      3
Actually, Waffler, you have proved MY point which was that you attempt to change subjects or misdirect whenever confronted with facts. I am not jealous of Gore's power, I am defending myself against it. These politicians only care about the money they make through graft -- when they know a bill will be passed to build a highway, they buy up the land first and then sell to the government at a huge profit. Same with these 'carbon offsets.' It is business, and you are just a tool for them. As I said before, you are so gullible, Waffler.  -- E Archer, NYC      3
And remember, Al Gore invented the internet.  -- cal, Lewisville, Texas
The Truth of Moral Responsibility is soon ignored when the money hits the table. Waffler would know of turning away from the Truth, concerning immoral and moral behavior for the sake of feeling good about corruption, and a corrupted lifestyle of theft based on legalized plunder ! Thank you Mike and Archer for commonsense in a sea of waffler like fools. Even conservative socialist want to keep their weapons and plunder to, thinking themselves to be patriotic to Liberty. Blind following the blind !  -- Ronw13, Oregon      1
The fact that something makes you feel good doesn't make it true. This is true in religion , politics , and nearly everything. If you are chased by a tiger it may make you feel better to imagine it's a rabbit, but it's still a tiger.  -- jim k, Austin      1

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