The Search for Truth

I recently had a few very stimulating conversations regarding the quest for truth. Truth, for me, is in the purest sense – the sum of existence. Truth is more valuable than gold and more noble than a crown.

I have a phrase on my wall from Confucius that reads:

One who knows, and know he knows, is a wise man. Follow him.

One who knows, and knows not he knows, is asleep. Awaken him.

One who knows not, and knows he knows not, is a child. Teach him.

One who knows not, and knows not he knows not, is a fool. Avoid him.

These are immortal words of wisdom that inspire me in my search for truth.

Do we have the courage to look at our own beliefs and ask ourselves, and then have the courage to seek for the answers, “Why do I believe this?” and “Are my beliefs true?”

I admire the individual who, like Martin Luther, rather than live in a comfortable life of false trust and hope, seeks truth and lives accordingly – even if it means rags, alienation or death for an exalted cause one knows to be true.

I seek to be like them – not because I want to be like them but because I admire their commitment to the quest for truth more than their desire for comfort. We all should do as Confucius sought to teach us – seek to know by first recognizing our childlike nature and seek to be taught truth – things as they really are, as they really were and as they are to come. It is my hope that rather than just accept those things we are taught, that we would seek out their truthfulness for ourselves and seek for truth wherever we may find it and no matter the cost. By so doing, it is my hope that the sum of our existence will be great.