Ernest Renan

“TRUTH is an idol,” spake the Christian age.

“Thou shalt not worship Truth divorced from Love.

Truth is but God’s reflection: Look above!”

So Pascal wrote, and still we trace the page.

“Truth is divine,” said Plato, “but on high

She dwells, and few may be her ministers,

For truth is sad and lonely and diverse;

Heal thou the weakling with a generous lie!”

But thou in Truth delightedst! Thou of soul

As subtle-shimmering as the rainbow mist,

And still in all her service didst persist.

For me One truth thou livedst, but the Whole.