Definition Essay

Sam Chambers

Mrs. Borsen

Expos, p4

Definition essay

3-23-11

We all search for it and we expect nothing less from others regardless of how much we actually speak it. Truth is a word that has been a nuisance since words were created. If we look through history, the truth or lack of truth, has won wars, saved people, killed people and everything in between. In everyone’s life we have a daily choice to tell the truth, or lie through our teeth. At times we all decide to do each alternative, but the truth is one of the hardest decisions to make.

            The definition of truth according to www.thefreeonlinedictionary.com is “Conformity to fact or actuality”. There must be more to it than that; if truth is honestly that simple, why is it so hard to follow? Even courts have to explain, to the testifying party, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. After it is pointed out to us, the truth seems very vague. Every word someone says could be the truth; they could just leave some of it out. They could also say some things that are true and some things that aren’t. No one ever says don’t lie; they just tell you to “tell the truth”. The truth is more of an idea. It is the idea that when you say something, someone else could quote it and not sound dumb. I hear people all the time that quote things other people say. When someone points out something that is incorrect about the statement, immediately the quoting person blames the quoted person and, they both seem dumb.

            We have all experienced a time when we didn’t tell the truth and it weighed on us until finally, we confessed. It is like the time when I broke my mom’s favorite vase. I realize not everyone’s mom has a favorite vase and I also realize not everyone has broken their mom’s favorite vase but, I’m sure we can all relate. I tried to hide it, and blame it on the dog, but it weighed on me. Day in and day out I saw where that vase was and remembered what I did, eventually I had to confess. Most of the time, in my experience, my mom already knew what I did and she decided to let me discipline myself. The entire time I was keeping something from her that she already knew, and it was eating away at me. Really, in life, the truth is always the better option even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.

Along with the truth playing a role in our individual lives, the truth has had an immense history in terms of politics, as Grover Cleveland said, “Above all, tell the truth.”(http://www.cherishyourday.com/PresidentialQuotes.html.) So many wars were fought because of people not telling the truth, or preventing others from telling the truth. As WW1 commenced, the U.S.A remained neutral. We traded with both, the Allies (Great Britain, France, ect.), and the Central Powers (Germany, Russia, ect.). Everything was fine and dandy until, Great Britain cut the communications between Germany and the U.S.A. They also started feeding false information to the U.S.A. This, along with our previous ties to Great Britain, came together to compel the U.S.A. into the war. According to Abraham Lincoln, “Truth is generally the best vindication against slander” (http://www.cherishyourday.com/PresidentialQuotes.html.) and if everyone had told the truth throughout the war, maybe Germany and the central powers wouldn’t have been slandered to the same extent.  The truth also has a more current relevance. We just had the senatorial elections and we have all seen the commercials. They go on and on about how the political decisions of their opposition’s past will make them a bad senator. We all know that half of the things these commercials say, if not more, are lies. They will say anything to get our votes, or to prevent their opponent from getting our votes. In terms of politics, the truth has had a profound effect on each and every one of us.

Not only is there a discrepancy in the definitions of truth between individuals, but there is also different interpretations of truth between age groups and genders. As we all know little kids have trouble deciphering between “good lies” and bad ones. They will go right out and tell anyone that they look bad, and most of the time they even confess to their wrong doings. Then there are the teenagers who will lie about anything that might get them into trouble but, also know they shouldn’t admit to how bad their girlfriend looks. Galileo Galilei said, “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” (http://thinkexist.com/quotations/truth/). Knowing when to lie and when to admit to your mistakes is something that comes with maturity.

From my mom’s vase to international espionage, the truth has defined the way we, as Americans, do things. Everyone preaches about how we should only tell the truth, they then go and lie to us, which in turn undermines their entire argument. Regardless of their ability to practice what they preach, we should all tell the truth. It not only weighs lighter on our consciences it is also the moral thing to do, and that’s the truth.

Works cited

Search Results for "thefreeonlinedictionary.com" Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://www.thefreeonlinedictionary.com/>.

"Presidential Quotes." Cherish Your Day. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cherishyourday.com/PresidentialQuotes.html>.

"Truth Quotes." Find the Famous Quotes You Need, ThinkExist.com Quotations. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. <http://thinkexist.com/quotations/truth/>.