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Ideas for 'On the Question of Absolute Undecidability', 'Concluding Unscientific Postscript' and 'Enquiry concerning Principles of Morals'

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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / a. Government

3927	Society prefers helpful lies to harmful truth [Hume]
	Full Idea: Truths which are pernicious to society, if any such there be, will yield to errors which are salutary and advantageous.
	From: David Hume (Enquiry concerning Principles of Morals [1751], IX.II.228)
	A reaction: Hume probably meant religion. Two centuries later we have a greater appetite for uncomfortable truth.