Is knowing the truth always good?

[tetrapod]

I haven't watched or read the news for a while now.  I don't want the bad things on TV to affect me.  I always say there are millions of children dying in Africa, but as long as you are not there and do not know about it, you will be be affected by it.  Are there times when you do not wish to know?  To not read books that would change your mind?  

Carl Sagan would say it is always better to know the truth.  To believe in a lie or to not know the truth even if it makes you happy is the same as you not caring how your get your money as long as you have it.  

[Solemn Wind]

I haven't watched or read the news for a while now.  I don't want the bad things on TV to affect me.  I always say there are millions of children dying in Africa, but as long as you are not there and do not know about you, you will be happy.  Are there times when you do not wish to know?  To not read books that would change your mind? 

Carl Sagan would say it is always better to know the truth.  To believe in a lie or to not know the truth even if it makes you happy is the same as you not caring how your get your money as long as you have it. 

Only the wisest of the wise understands that the greatest truth and wisdom is often ignorance...fo r most people are ignorant and we have to live with them. That is sad but it is the truth.

[tetrapod]

Only the wisest of the wise understands that the greatest truth and wisdom is often ignorance...fo r most people are ignorant and we have to live with them. That is sad but it is the truth.

But knowing the truth allows you to react to it.  Not knowing the truth would not even give you that chance.  The sad part is when knowing the truth and knowing you can't do a thing about it.  It is then that bothers you.

The buddha has this to say:

Do not worry.
If you can change it, change it.
If you can't change it, no point in worrying.
Therefore, there is no reason to worry.

Easily said but hard to do.

[Solemn Wind]

But knowing the truth allows you to react to it.  Not knowing the truth would not even give you that chance.  The sad part is when knowing the truth and knowing you can't do a thing about it.  It is then that bothers you.

The buddha has this to say:

Do not worry.
If you can change it, change it.
If you can't change it, no point in worrying.
Therefore, there is no reason to worry.

Easily said but hard to do.

Knowing the truth can be so sad and heartbreaking. Only a person with the mind and temperament of the Buddha's caliber can live and be happy with the truth. For all we know, the Buddha might not even be a real person...but just someone that we made up that good human being should strive to emulate or become.

In real life, for so many who comes to know the truth, they either commit suicide or become CEOs.

[tetrapod]

Knowing the truth can be so sad and heartbreaking. Only a person with the mind and temperament of the Buddha's caliber can live and be happy with the truth. For all we know, the Buddha might not even be a real person...but just someone that we made up that good human being should strive to emulate or become.

In real life, for so many who comes to know the truth, they either commit suicide or become CEOs.

I think I  have reached that point.  To be bad or not to be bad. 

[nightrider]

All I can say is don't be a fool.=] Whether you're helpless or not, you should always know the truth.

[slude]

truth is..help yourself first before you can help others.

[saki saki]

truth is..help yourself first before you can help others.

very well said.. i couldn't have put it in a more better sentance. Ha ha the turth hurts doesn't it..lol

[tetrapod]

All I can say is don't be a fool.=] Whether you're helpless or not, you should always know the truth.

OK I will be selective in what I want to know.  

[TheAfterLife]

I haven't watched or read the news for a while now.  I don't want the bad things on TV to affect me.  I always say there are millions of children dying in Africa, but as long as you are not there and do not know about it, you will be be affected by it.  Are there times when you do not wish to know?  To not read books that would change your mind?  

Carl Sagan would say it is always better to know the truth.  To believe in a lie or to not know the truth even if it makes you happy is the same as you not caring how your get your money as long as you have it.  

Hmm, I thought atheist people were not suppose to believe in lies nor truth. What a hypocrisy I find this to be when the nature of atheism believes in relativism.

[freebird]

Nope, my neurons only have the capacity to know what matters and don't matter.

[nightrider]

OK I will be selective in what I want to know. 

That's being foolish too.

[tetrapod]

That's being foolish too.

Are you saying we should know all the truth whenever we can?  If the world is ending tomorrow, would you want to know? 

[Hung_Low]

Are you saying we should know all the truth whenever we can?  If the world is ending tomorrow, would you want to know? 

We should...

[evil-in-deed]

quantum physics says that the very act of knowing will change the outcome...