Better the hard truth, I say, than the comforting fantasy.

Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable.

…better the hard truth, I say, than the comforting fantasy. And in the final tolling it often turns out that the facts are more comforting than the fantasy.

Better a cruel truth than a comfortable delusion.

But better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.

A harmful truth is better than a useful lie.

Reality wins, and I'd rather see the truth than stay in love with a fantasy.

The truth can be a harsh and cruel reality.

I'd rather hear a truth that'll make me cry than a lie that'll make me smile!

If a marker were to be erected today, it might read, in homage to his scientific courage: “He preferred the hard truth to his dearest illusions.”

The truth that seems discouraging does in reality only transform the courage of those strong enough to accept it; and, in any event, a truth that disheartens, because it is true, is still of far more value than the most stimulating of falsehoods.

I’d rather get bad news from an honest man than lies from a flatterer.

A new untruth is better than an old truth.

Say what you have to say, not what you ought. Any truth is better than make-believe.