“Value truth, however you come by it. Who would not pick up a jewel that lay on a dunghill?”

—  James Burgh

The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Value truth, however you come by it. Who would not pick up a jewel that lay on a dunghill?" by James Burgh?
James Burgh photo
James Burgh 49
British politician 1714–1775

Related quotes

Kabir photo

“A diamond was laying in the street covered with dirt. Many fools passed by. Someone who knew diamonds picked it up.”

Kabir (1440–1518) Indian mystic poet

Sakhi, 171; translation by Yashwant K. Malaiya based on that of Puran Sahib.
Bijak

Letitia Elizabeth Landon photo

“Deceit is this world's passport: who would dare,
However pure the breast, to lay it bare?”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–1838) English poet and novelist

Title poem
The Venetian Bracelet (1829)

“If every man lays down his arms and refuses to pick them up, the first man to pick up can do whatever he wants.”

Jack Donovan (1974) American activist, editor and writer

Violence is Golden
A Sky Without Eagles (2014)

Mitch Albom photo
Sue Monk Kidd photo
Bruce Springsteen photo

“Come on up for the rising.
Come on up, lay your hands in mine.
Come on up for the rising.
Come on up for the rising tonight.”

Bruce Springsteen (1949) American singer and songwriter

"The Rising"
Song lyrics, The Rising (2002)

“It is easier to pick it up fallen than not to let it fall. Let it fall and you will pick it up.”

Antonio Porchia (1885–1968) Italian Argentinian poet

Es más fácil levantar la caída que no dejarla caer. Déjala caer y la levantarás.
Voces (1943)

Kate Bush photo

“Just like a photograph,
I pick you up.
Just like a station on the radio,
I pick you up.”

Kate Bush (1958) British recording artist; singer, songwriter, musician and record producer

Song lyrics, The Sensual World (1989)

Thomas Jefferson photo

“In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.”

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) 3rd President of the United States of America

Letter to John Adams, on Christian scriptures (24 January 1814)
1810s
Context: The whole history of these books is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.

Related topics