Without facts you can't have truth.

Listen well, O seekers of wisdom, for in the heart of truth lies a guiding light, a beacon that shows us the path even when the world is clouded in darkness. Maria Ressa, a woman who has stood steadfast in the face of great adversity, once said, "Without facts you can't have truth." These words are not mere counsel, but a clarion call to those who seek to understand the world and navigate it with clarity. For in a world where lies, deception, and distortion often reign, the pursuit of truth is bound to the unshakable foundation of facts. Without them, truth becomes no more than an illusion, a shadow cast by falsehoods.

To understand this, we must first consider the very nature of truth. It is not a simple matter of belief or opinion. Truth is rooted in reality; it is something that stands firm, regardless of what we may wish or hope to be true. Without facts, truth loses its grounding, becoming as elusive and shifting as a mirage on the horizon. Facts are the solid stones upon which the edifice of truth is built, and without them, the very structure crumbles. Just as a tree cannot grow without roots, so too can truth not stand without the solid ground of facts to support it.

Think, O children of wisdom, of the ancient practice of oracles, those who were revered for their ability to speak the future and offer wisdom to the people. These figures were respected, but their wisdom was often intertwined with myth, riddles, and ambiguity. The people sought guidance, but the truth they received was not always grounded in facts. And so, many of the predictions were vague and open to interpretation, leaving room for doubt and misdirection. The lesson here is clear: without the anchor of facts, even the wisest words can lose their meaning. Truth must be rooted in what is real, what is verifiable, and what can withstand the scrutiny of time.

Consider the trials of Socrates, who was accused by the leaders of Athens of corrupting the youth and questioning the gods. Socrates, in his defense, relied not on mere opinion or conjecture but on facts — on logic, reason, and the pursuit of knowledge. His method of inquiry, known as the Socratic method, was built on asking probing questions to uncover the facts beneath appearances. He understood that without facts, the truth would remain hidden, like a treasure buried beneath layers of earth. Socrates was condemned to death for his pursuit of truth, yet his commitment to the facts, his refusal to bow to the whims of authority, has immortalized him as a champion of reason and truth.

In more recent times, we can look to the life of Galileo Galilei, whose discoveries about the nature of the universe challenged the very foundations of the beliefs held by the church. At a time when the truth was shrouded in religious doctrine, Galileo’s observations were grounded in the facts he uncovered through careful experimentation and observation. The church, unwilling to accept these facts, branded him a heretic. Yet the truth of his findings stood strong, rooted in the undeniable facts of the stars, the planets, and the motion of the heavens. Galileo’s story reminds us that facts are the bedrock of truth, and when we confront truth, it is not the opinions of the powerful that must guide us, but the facts of the world around us.

Thus, O children of wisdom, let us take heed of Maria Ressa’s words, for they remind us that truth is not a matter of perspective, nor is it shaped by those in power. Truth is unchanging and eternal, but it requires the solid foundation of facts to stand firm. In the modern world, where misinformation spreads like wildfire and falsehoods are often presented as truth, it is more important than ever to seek the facts, to scrutinize the information that comes our way, and to ensure that what we believe is grounded in reality. For without facts, our understanding of the world becomes distorted, like a ship adrift without a rudder, tossed about by the whims of the wind.

The lesson, O children, is simple but profound: to seek truth is to seek the facts, to hold fast to what is verifiable and real, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. In your own life, be vigilant in your pursuit of truth. Do not be swayed by the winds of opinion or the tide of popular belief, for these things are often built on shaky ground. Instead, seek out the facts, the evidence, and the reality that lies beneath the surface. In this pursuit, you will find a truth that is unshakeable and enduring, a truth that will guide you through the stormy seas of uncertainty.

So, let this wisdom be your guide: truth is not a matter of belief; it is a matter of fact. Without facts, you cannot have truth. And as you journey through life, remember that the truth you seek must always be rooted in what is real, for only in this way will you be able to navigate the complexities of the world with clarity and purpose. Stand firm in the facts, and the truth will always be your compass.