Some minds remain open long enough for the truth not only to

"Some minds remain open long enough for the truth not only to enter but to pass on through by way of a ready exit without pausing anywhere along the route." These words from Elizabeth Kenny offer a profound reflection on the nature of truth and the mind’s openness to it. Kenny’s insight speaks to the transience of truth in the human mind, a transient truth that, despite its potential to enlighten, often moves swiftly through the mind, leaving little impact or transformation. She suggests that while some minds are open to receiving the truth, they are not willing to retain it; instead, they allow it to pass through without allowing it to take root. This fleeting nature of truth within the mind speaks to a deeper human condition, one that resists lasting change or the commitment to the truth once it is encountered.

In the ancient world, the idea of the mind’s openness was considered a gateway to wisdom and understanding. The Greek philosophers, particularly Socrates, valued the openness of the mind as essential for true learning and growth. Socrates, known for his method of questioning, believed that in order to find wisdom, one must first be open to the possibility that their current beliefs or understandings might be wrong. He believed that through honest inquiry and a willingness to be wrong, one could come to understand deeper truths. However, Socrates also understood that many people, when faced with uncomfortable truths, would dismiss them or let them slip away rather than let them challenge their current understanding. In this, Socrates saw the struggle between the pursuit of truth and the human tendency to protect the comfort of the known. Kenny’s words echo this tension: some minds are open for a moment, but they allow the truth to pass through without allowing it to settle.

Consider the story of Galileo Galilei, the scientist who, in the 16th century, discovered the truth of the heliocentric theory—that the Earth revolved around the Sun. This truth, backed by rigorous observation and evidence, was met with resistance by the Church and the wider scientific community. Many minds were open to new ideas, but when the truth became too disruptive to the existing order, those minds quickly closed again, allowing the truth to enter but not to linger or transform their understanding. Galileo was forced to recant his findings under threat of persecution, demonstrating how difficult it is for minds to allow truth to linger when it challenges deeply held beliefs. His story is a testament to the tension between the openness to truth and the human resistance to change.

This theme of truth being fleeting in the mind is also reflected in the example of Nicolaus Copernicus, whose theory, like Galileo’s, challenged the prevailing geocentric view of the universe. Though Copernicus presented a scientific truth that was eventually proven, many of his contemporaries allowed the truth to pass through without taking its full significance to heart. Instead, they clung to the old ways of thinking. It was only generations later, when more evidence piled up, that Copernicus’ truth began to reshape our understanding of the cosmos. The story of Copernicus reveals that even when the truth is presented clearly, it is not always embraced; sometimes it is too much for the human mind to accept and must wait for the right conditions to take hold.

The lesson that Kenny and the philosophers of the ancient world impart is one of engagement and reflection. Truth, once presented, must not only be allowed to enter but must also be nurtured and allowed to take root. To truly understand the truth is not simply to acknowledge it momentarily but to engage with it deeply, to let it transform the way we think, the way we act, and the way we live. Truth is not a fleeting experience; it is a catalyst for change, but only if we allow it to change us. The mind’s openness is not just a passive receptivity; it is an active engagement that requires us to question, to reflect, and to apply the truth in our lives.

Consider how many times in our own lives we encounter a truth—a difficult truth about ourselves, our society, or the world—yet we move past it, unwilling to confront its full implications. Perhaps we hear about inequality, injustice, or personal flaws, but instead of allowing those truths to change us, we move on quickly, avoiding the discomfort they bring. Kenny’s words remind us that the truth requires more than mere acknowledgment; it demands action and transformation. The lesson is to hold onto the truths we encounter, to ponder them, and to allow them to shape our future. Only through this process of engagement can we be truly changed by the truth.

So, let us take Kenny’s insight to heart: when truth comes to us, let us pause and let it settle within us. Let us not rush through it, allowing it to pass by without taking the time to understand its meaning. In our own lives, we must engage deeply with the truth, reflect on it, and allow it to transform us. In doing so, we can ensure that the truths we encounter do not merely pass through us but become an integral part of our being, guiding us toward a future grounded in wisdom and understanding. For it is only when we allow the truth to linger within us that we can truly grow, both as individuals and as a society.