All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed.

Hear the thunderous voice of Arthur Schopenhauer, who unveiled one of the eternal patterns of mankind: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” In this vision we behold the journey of truth across the ages, a pilgrimage marked by mockery, by battle, and finally by triumph. For men cling to their illusions as to a warm cloak, and when truth tears it away, they shiver, resist, and rage—until, at last, they grow accustomed to its light and forget they ever denied it.

The meaning of this quote lies in the nature of human resistance. When new truths first arise, they seem absurd, for they challenge the comfortable order of things. Thus they are ridiculed, laughed at as folly, dismissed as madness. But as evidence grows and as voices refuse to be silenced, ridicule hardens into opposition—and the defenders of the old ways fight with all their strength to preserve their power. Yet time is patient, and truth does not die. At last, what was once mocked and despised stands unshakable, and men declare it to be obvious, forgetting their earlier blindness.

History gives us countless witnesses. Consider the tale of Galileo Galilei. When he proclaimed that the earth circles the sun, the learned men of his age scoffed—“How ridiculous! Does not the eye show the heavens moving?” Soon the laughter turned to fury, and he was dragged before the Inquisition, forced to renounce what he knew to be true. But centuries passed, and now his truth is so self-evident that children learn it as their first lesson of the stars. Thus Galileo’s journey mirrors Schopenhauer’s three stages: ridicule, opposition, acceptance.

Think also of the abolition of slavery. At first, those who spoke against it were mocked as dreamers, out of touch with the “realities” of economy and empire. Later, their cause was resisted with violence—wars fought, blood spilled, nations divided. Yet in time, the truth that no man should own another became so clear that today it is held as obvious, though it was once denied with passion and fury. Here too, Schopenhauer’s prophecy proves itself: truth, no matter how fiercely opposed, rises like the sun until no one can deny its light.

The wisdom of this quote also reaches into the daily lives of men. Each of us carries within us truths about ourselves—about who we are, what we love, what we must become. At first, these truths are mocked by others, perhaps even by ourselves. Then, when we begin to live them, resistance comes—from family, from society, from our own fear. Yet if we remain steadfast, these truths will one day shine so brightly that all will say, “Of course, it could never have been otherwise.” Thus the path of truth is not only historical, but deeply personal.

Let this teaching embolden you. If your truth is ridiculed, do not despair—it is the first step of its victory. If it is opposed with violence, take courage—it is the second step, the sign that your truth has power. And if you endure, the day will come when it will be accepted as self-evident, and those who once mocked will forget their scorn. To walk with truth is to walk a hard road, but it ends in triumph.

Practical is this path: do not expect new truths to be welcomed with ease. Whether you speak against injustice, invent a new idea, or live a life true to your soul, you will face laughter and resistance. Endure them both. Arm yourself with patience, humility, and strength. Remember always that truth is eternal, and men’s blindness is temporary. For as Schopenhauer teaches, all truth must walk the road of ridicule, opposition, and finally, acceptance. And when it stands revealed at last, you will know you walked in the company of eternity.