Daily Meditation: Sunday, May 24, 1998

Should we always speak the truth? No, often it is better to …

05/24/1998

Should we always speak the truth? No, often it is better to remain silent. Suppose a man confides in a friend that he has doubts concerning the fidelity of his wife. The friend, who knows what is going on, believes it his duty to tell the truth and confirms that his wife is cheating him. As a result the husband, insane with jealousy, surprises his wife and her lover, kills them with a revolver and then, in desperation, puts a bullet through his own head. There you are: the magnificent results of the truth! Of course this anecdote may seem to oversimplify the matter, but not entirely. Look at all the harm people do under the pretext of telling the truth. The truth is wonderful, provided we first consult wisdom in order to understand how, when, and to whom we should tell it. Otherwise there is nothing more disastrous than truth if wisdom, and love too, of course, are not there to ration and guide it. Because these three support each other and must always work together: love, wisdom, and truth.