Truth may be stretched, but cannot be broken, and always gets

"Truth may be stretched, but cannot be broken, and always gets above falsehood, as does oil above water." These words of the great Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes are a powerful meditation on the nature of truth and its unyielding strength. In a world where falsehood often seems to reign supreme, where lies can spread like wildfire, Cervantes offers a profound reminder: the truth—though sometimes stretched or obscured—will always rise above the falsehood. The analogy of oil above water speaks to the inherent purity and resilience of the truth. No matter how far it is pushed or bent, it cannot be broken, for it is immutable, like oil that floats no matter how turbulent the waters below it.

This truth, Cervantes tells us, can indeed be stretched—it can be misunderstood, manipulated, or twisted. Falsehoods may seek to obscure it, to cover it, or to present alternative narratives, but they cannot destroy it. Truth, like a seed buried deep in the earth, will eventually push its way through the soil, breaking free to shine in the light of day. Even when it is stretched, even when it is contorted, it maintains its core integrity. It is this unbreakable quality that makes truth so powerful, and why, despite the efforts of those who seek to distort it, it will ultimately rise above the lies, just as oil naturally rises to the surface of water.

Consider the story of Galileo Galilei, the great scientist who, in the face of overwhelming opposition, spoke the truth about the nature of the universe—that the Earth revolved around the Sun. At the time, the prevailing belief was that the Earth was the center of the universe, and the truth that Galileo championed was met with fierce resistance, even condemnation by the Church. His ideas were stretched, distorted, and ridiculed, but the core of his truth remained unshaken. Though he was forced to recant publicly under threat of torture, the truth of his discoveries could not be buried. Over time, the weight of his findings became undeniable, and the truth emerged victorious, rising above the falsehoods that had sought to suppress it.

The truth is, in many ways, like the oil in Cervantes' metaphor. It may be submerged in the depths of falsehood, but it will always rise above. The more that falsehoods attempt to suppress or obscure the truth, the more that truth reveals itself for what it truly is. The oil does not struggle to rise, nor does it fight against the water; it simply moves upward because it cannot help but do so. So too, truth will rise, sometimes quietly, sometimes with great force, but it will rise because it cannot be kept down forever.

Let us also reflect upon the tale of Socrates, who was condemned to death for corrupting the youth of Athens with his questions and his pursuit of truth. Falsehoods surrounded him—accusations that he was a dangerous man who sought to undermine the state. Yet, Socrates did not fear the falsehoods spread about him. He knew that the truth of his actions, the genuine pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, would ultimately rise above the lies. His death was not the end of his truth; it became the seed from which his ideas would flourish for centuries to come. The truth he lived by could not be suppressed, and in the end, it was his truth that triumphed, not the lies that sought to silence him.

Cervantes’ words also remind us of the immense power of truth in our own lives. How often do we encounter falsehoods, whether in the form of rumors, misunderstandings, or deliberate misrepresentation? In those moments, we may be tempted to fight, to argue, or to desperately try to prove ourselves. But truth, like oil, needs no defense. It will rise naturally, and when we stand firm in it, we too, like Galileo or Socrates, become part of a larger story—a story of integrity, of resilience, and of ultimate victory over deception.

The lesson here is clear: no matter how falsehoods may try to obscure or distort the truth, they cannot break it. In the end, truth is a force that cannot be destroyed. It may be stretched and bent, but it will always find its way to the surface. Our task, then, is not to become overwhelmed by the falsehoods of the world, but to stand firm in our commitment to truth, knowing that it is unbreakable and eternal. When we live in alignment with truth, we allow ourselves to rise above the deceitful currents that seek to drag us down, just as oil rises above water.

Let us walk in the light of this understanding. Let us embrace the truth in all its complexity, knowing that, even in the darkest of times, it will ultimately rise, shining brighter than any falsehood. And when we encounter those who seek to distort the truth, let us remember the words of Cervantes: the truth may be stretched, but it will never be broken, for it is as eternal as the very essence of life itself.