korrents

korrents · piece

What is “the truth” really for?

Derek Sivers · 20 Jan 2026 · sive.rs ↗

3 korrents from this piece

Derek Sivers did not write this page.

Every claim below was made in this piece, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.

  1. Our reading

    Nobody actually decides on the facts -- emotion decides and facts rationalise, so you find whatever truth is useful to you.

    Their wordsEmotion decides. Facts rationalize. You'll find whatever truth is useful.

  2. Our reading

    Facts deployed as weapons in an argument can win the exchange without settling the disagreement.

    Their wordsFacts can win a battle but not a war.

  3. Our reading

    One good story outweighs a mountain of evidence, because most emotions cannot be argued with.

    Their wordsYou'll ignore a mountain of evidence if you hear one good story against it or just feel yourself leaning the other way.