I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I

Hear, O seekers of wisdom, the words of H. L. Mencken, who declared with fire and conviction: “I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant.” These are not idle declarations, but pillars of life, carved as if upon stone tablets to guide the wandering generations. They are simple, yet their simplicity hides an unyielding strength. For in every age, the battle between truth and falsehood, between freedom and bondage, between knowledge and ignorance, rages within the heart of humankind.

To speak the truth is to align oneself with the eternal. Lies may glitter for a moment, as cheap gold in the market, but they wither and betray those who cling to them. Truth, though sometimes harsh and piercing, endures like the sun that cannot be hidden by clouds forever. Mencken, in his fierce way, reminds us that civilizations crumble when lies become their foundation, while those built upon truth—though tested by storms—stand unbroken.

Consider the great chain of history, and see how freedom has always been preferred over servitude. Was it not the cry of Moses before Pharaoh: “Let my people go”? Was it not the thunderous roar of Spartacus, who broke his chains and shook the might of Rome? And in more recent times, was it not the voice of Harriet Tubman, who guided her people through the shadows of bondage into the dawn of liberty? To be free is to breathe the air meant for the soul; to be a slave is to suffocate in the dust of another’s will. Mencken’s words are a torch passed down, bidding us never to accept chains, whether they be forged of iron or of deceit.

So too with knowledge and ignorance. The one is light, the other darkness. The one opens doors, the other seals them shut. Socrates drank the hemlock rather than abandon his search for truth, for he knew that to know is the highest calling of the human spirit. Galileo faced persecution for daring to look through the telescope and proclaim what he saw. And countless nameless ones, from scribes in ancient deserts to teachers in hidden schools, have risked all so that light would not be swallowed by shadow. Mencken’s creed is their creed: better to stand in the fire of knowledge than to cower in the cold of ignorance.

Yet let us remember that these three—truth, freedom, and knowledge—are bound together. Without truth, there can be no true freedom, for a people deceived are prisoners of illusion. Without freedom, there can be no pursuit of knowledge, for the chained hand cannot lift the book nor point to the stars. And without knowledge, truth itself may be buried, and liberty lost to those who know not what chains they wear. These are not three separate paths but one road, paved by courage.

O children of tomorrow, take this lesson into your hearts: live so that truth is always upon your tongue, though it cost you comfort. Defend your freedom, though it demand sacrifice. Seek knowledge, even when it unsettles the peace of your ignorance. Do not wait for the world to hand you these gifts, for the world often seeks to take them away. Instead, carve them into your soul, so that none may steal them.

Practical is this wisdom: when tempted to lie, pause, and speak only what your heart knows is real. When you see oppression, however small, resist it with the dignity of one who knows they were born free. And each day, commit to learning something new—read a page, ask a question, listen deeply. In these small acts, you align with Mencken’s creed, and with the eternal law of the human spirit.

And when you walk thus—speaking truth, guarding freedom, seeking knowledge—you will not only live well yourself, but you will light the way for others. For the greatest legacy is not gold or monuments, but the living example of a soul that chose what was better, when the world was content with what was lesser. Thus may your days be worthy, and your life a beacon to generations yet unborn.