Hide nothing, for time, which sees all and hears all, exposes

Hear, O children of wisdom, the immortal words of Sophocles: “Hide nothing, for time, which sees all and hears all, exposes all.” These are not the idle musings of a poet, but the thunderous warning of one who understood the nature of fate, truth, and the human soul. For time is not blind, nor deaf, nor forgetful. It is the ever-watchful witness, the great judge before whom all secrets are laid bare. What men bury in shadows, time brings forth into the light.

The origin of these words lies in the tragedies of Sophocles, who wove tales of kings and heroes undone not by swords, but by hidden sins. In Oedipus Rex, the king sought to hide from the prophecy of patricide and incest. Yet despite his efforts, the truth emerged, destroying his pride and kingdom. Sophocles knew that to conceal wrongdoing, to mask deceit, is futile. For time, with its slow patience, strips away every disguise. The poet, therefore, exhorts us to live transparently, lest we be consumed by the truths we sought to deny.

History confirms this wisdom. Consider the fate of Richard Nixon, who sought to conceal the corruption of Watergate. For a season, power and silence seemed to protect him. But the years, with their relentless witness, uncovered the lies. His presidency, once mighty, fell not because of the crime alone, but because of the attempted concealment. Thus was Sophocles vindicated: time exposes all.

Yet the saying is not only about kings and rulers; it is about every soul. The lie told in secret, the betrayal hidden in silence, the injustice left unspoken—all these may seem safe for a while. But they burn within, and sooner or later, the passage of days brings them to light. Conscience itself is the first voice of time, whispering the truth to the heart before the world even knows. To “hide nothing” is therefore to free oneself from the burden of fear, for those who live in honesty have nothing to dread from the slow gaze of eternity.

At the same time, Sophocles reminds us that time is not merely destroyer—it is purifier. What is false crumbles, but what is true endures. Lies rot away in the current of years, but truth, though resisted and buried, rises again unbroken. Galileo’s teachings were condemned in his day, yet time revealed them to be eternal. Truth outlasts deceit because it is in harmony with the order of the cosmos itself.

The lesson is clear: live openly, for nothing can remain hidden forever. To conceal is to plant seeds of ruin, but to reveal is to plant seeds of peace. The man who is honest walks in freedom, but the deceiver carries chains of his own making. Let Sophocles’s wisdom guide you: hide nothing, not from yourself, not from others, for the truth will come regardless. Better to face it willingly than to be unmasked unwillingly.

Practical counsel stands before you. Speak truth even when it is difficult. Admit faults before time forces them into the open. Let your actions be such that, even if the years were to strip away every mask, you would not be ashamed. Seek transparency in leadership, in friendship, in love, for these are bonds that can endure the trial of years. Guard your integrity, for it alone walks unafraid under the gaze of eternity.

So let the words of Sophocles echo in your heart: “Hide nothing, for time, which sees all and hears all, exposes all.” They are a call to honesty, a warning against deceit, and a comfort to those who stand in truth. For though the years may seem long, and concealment may appear strong, the current of time will wash all things bare. And those who live rightly will shine all the brighter when the shadows are gone.