Truths are illusions which we have forgotten are illusions.

There is no regular path which leads from these intuitions into the land of ghostly schemata, the land of abstractions. There exists no word for these intuitions; when man sees them he grows dumb, or else he speaks only in forbidden metaphors and in unheard - of combinations of concepts.

They [humans] are deeply immersed in illusions and in dream images; their eyes merely glide over the surface of things and see "forms."

Man demands truth and fulfills this demand in moral intercourse with other men; this is the basis of all social life. One anticipates the unpleasant consequences of reciprocal lying. From this there arises the duty of truth. We permit epic poets to lie because we expect no detrimental consequences in this case. Thus the lie is permitted where it is considered something pleasant. Assuming that it does no harm, the lie is beautiful and charming.

The truth must be told, even if the world should be shivered in fragments.

There is no pre-established harmony between the furtherance of truth and the well-being of mankind.