Getting rid of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a

Hear now the words of Ludwig Börne, who declared: “Getting rid of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a truth.” At first glance, this saying may strike the ear strangely. How could the loss of falsehood be greater than the gain of truth? Yet look deeper, and you will see: truth is like light, but if the eyes are veiled by illusion, the light cannot be seen. To cast away a delusion is to tear away the veil, to cleanse the vision, to make the soul fit to behold reality. One may place jewels in a man’s hand, but if his eyes are blinded by deception, he will mistake them for stones. Therefore, the breaking of delusion is the first and greater victory.

The delusion is more dangerous than ignorance. Ignorance is an empty cup, waiting to be filled. But delusion is a cup already filled with poison; one must first pour it out before it can receive pure water. Börne’s words remind us that men often stumble not because they lack knowledge, but because they clutch falsehood as though it were truth. To remove this falsehood is to set the soul free, to clear the path, to restore the traveler to the road of wisdom.

Think of the tale of the Trojan War. The people of Troy, wise in battle and strong in walls, fell not to ignorance of warfare but to delusion. They believed the wooden horse was a gift of peace, a token of the gods. Their eyes were clouded by false trust, and so they welcomed their own destruction within their gates. If some voice had risen loud enough to shatter this delusion, Troy might have stood. No new truth was needed—only the removal of the lie. Thus Börne speaks rightly: the breaking of delusion is more precious than the discovery of truth, for delusion leads to ruin while truth, ignored, waits quietly for its time.

History repeats this lesson. In the twentieth century, entire nations were swept away by the delusion of false ideologies. Promises of glory, purity, and destiny blinded millions to the horror that lay beneath. Men were not ignorant; they were deceived. The greatest wisdom came not to those who found new truths, but to those who recognized the falsehood and rejected it, even at great cost. For to stand against delusion is the highest courage, and to destroy it within oneself is the beginning of true freedom.

The ancients too knew this path. The Buddha taught that men suffer because they cling to illusions of permanence, of possession, of self. His teaching was less about adding truths than about stripping away delusions. Likewise, the Stoics counseled: do not be deluded by riches, fame, or the fear of death. In tearing away these false beliefs, the soul becomes strong, serene, and wise. Wisdom, then, is not always gained by addition, but often by subtraction—by clearing away the rubble so that the foundation may stand firm.

What lesson, then, shall you take? First, look within and ask: what delusions bind me? Do I mistake comfort for happiness? Do I call greed ambition, or fear prudence? Each delusion you uncover and cast aside will open a space within you, a space where truth may enter and dwell. Do not be ashamed to discover you have been deceived; be glad, for every delusion broken is a chain shattered.

And so, my child, let Börne’s wisdom dwell in your heart: a man who loses a delusion rises higher than one who merely gains a truth. For the one has cleared his vision and walks freely, while the other may still stumble if he carries falsehood within. Therefore, practice this daily: test your thoughts, question your beliefs, and do not fear to cast away even the dearest idea if it proves false. For in the end, wisdom is not the piling of truths, but the liberation from lies.