Anthony de Mello Quotes

A smart man only believes half of what he hears, a wise man knows which half.

The first point of wisdom is to discern that which is false; the second, to know that which is true.

The only question which any wise man can ask himself, and which any honest man will ask himself, is whether a doctrine is true or false.

On the whole, I should say that the person who likes to lie should never, in any circumstances, be allowed to. Leave the lying to the people who hate it. You will not find them indulging often.

For all right judgment of any man or things it is useful, nay, essential, to see his good qualities before pronouncing on his bad.

My definition of an educated man is the fellow who knows the right thing to do at the time it has to be done. You can be sincere and still be stupid.

Not when truth is dirty, but when it is shallow, does the enlightened man dislike to wade into its waters.

Not everyone can see the truth, but he can be it.

It is a fine thing to be honest, but it is also very important to be right.

Seeing reality for what it is is what we call discernment. The work of discernment is very hard.

Just because you're upfront with someone doesn't mean you're an honest person; you might just be someone in the passenger seat.

A man is not good or bad for one action.

The truth cannot be deceptive, and one who sees it cannot be deceived.

[Ross Perot] thinks that proclaiming honesty is the same as being honest.

Opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.

It is necessary to judge accurately the things that rest on opinion

Ability to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false, is the characteristic of intelligence.

The foolish reject what they see and not what they think; the wise reject what they think and not what they see.

In truth, opinion may be taken for understanding; understanding cannot be taken for opinion. How so? Surely because opinion may be deceived; understanding cannot be. If it could, it would not be understanding but opinion. For true understanding has not only certain truth, but the knowledge of truth.

It might be said that the pose of absolute honesty is the most dishonest one of all.

Judgment is not upon all occasions required, but discretion always is.

I seek the truth.

There will be people who will teach for the sake of greed or for the sake of ego. So watch their lives. Do they look and act like Jesus?

The virtuous will be sure to speak uprightly; but those whose speech is upright may not be virtuous.

I don't like people who speak or think in terms of gaining anybody's confidence. If one's actions are honest, one does not need the predated confidence of others, only their rational perception. The person who craves a moral blank check of that kind, has dishonest intentions, whether he admits it to himself or not.