Which is more difficult – truth or false?

Before anyone reads this article, I would like to clarify that I am writing this article not to undermine the importance of truth in any manner whatsoever, but to argue the commonly held belief that ‘the path of truth is not easy’. I would here like to present my alternate views on being truthful.

There were times when people used to have various notions; notions which were considered facts and which perhaps also spelt the common order of the day. Certainly, breaking away those poorly conceived notions needed time and efforts so that people could change their established viewpoints and adjust their lives to something new. It seems many of the problems were of implementing a change, eventually making the path of truth a tough and sacrificing one.

But now, having seen how being truthful helps, I am left to wonder why people believe that it is a harder thing to do. It is the easiest response in any situation. You don’t have to think and do much to speak whatever is true – you don’t have to manipulate your mind, words and body expressions to add conviction to whatever you say.

On the other hand, the alternate, and the devious path of false requires many efforts. It is like a heavy risk and reward game. The more risk one can take, the better he could earn, but while putting a lot more on stake. Of course, if there were no higher (expected) rewards, then why would people go against the tide to practice false? It requires tremendous efforts to justify false claims, especially if the claims are to be upheld for longer. Perhaps, the professions wherein people are sometimes required to twist the facts bestow higher rewards on their incumbents.

To keep things in perspective, the point I have made from the above discussion is that path of truth is rather an easier one. But what I really find interesting is that people who speak truth aren’t necessarily the ones who want to speak truth, but are likely to be the ones who couldn’t speak otherwise. They simply don’t have the guts to put their hands into the dirt and complexities of false and counter the repercussions. Actually majority of the people are still the holy cows, better at understanding things in a simpler way; they prefer truth, simply because they aren’t good at false. Therefore, despite the high rewards that falseness can bring in short run or long run, it is just not in high demand.

I understand many of us would argue that there are plenty of situations wherein being true is difficult and painful, and is thus an act of courage. But which are those situations? I believe such situations mostly arise either when people have screwed up something and they are uneasy to admit their faults or when they are already living in screwed up circumstances, wherein mere upholding the fact would only aggravate the pain and after-effects of one’s circumstances and may even cause a backlash. Out of these two situations, the first one shouldn’t be considered an act of courage; it is just squaring off. However, the second one could be a courageous act, if only it is in the larger benefit of all. So, if a husband acknowledges to his wife that she is not beautiful, then he might be a stupid – not a hero – for hurting his marriage, even though he wanted to have a happy marriage; therefore, to deny the truth in the better interest of both the partners, he might be doing a bit more, and is therefore acting courageously.

Before I conclude, I must make it clear that I don’t propagate that truth is subject to a situation, anticipated benefits and / or tolerance of its audience. I just want to say that truth is rather an easier way, and false could be equally or perhaps more demanding. Also, those who speak truth are not necessarily courageous; they may be simply acting of out of their own limitations, within their capabilities.