TRUISMS

Organizing Jenny Holzer's Truisms

All truisms (253)

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE CAN GO A LONG WAY
A NAME MEANS A LOT JUST BY ITSELF
A SENSE OF TIMING IS THE MARK OF GENIUS
A SINGLE EVENT CAN HAVE INFINITELY MANY INTERPRETATIONS
A STRONG SENSE OF DUTY CAN IMPRISON YOU
A STRONG SENSE OF DUTY IMPRISONS YOU
ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION CAN BE A FORM OF FREEDOM
ABSTRACTION IS A TYPE OF DECADENCE
ABUSE OF POWER SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE
ACTION CAUSES MORE TROUBLE THAN THOUGHT
ALL THINGS ARE DELICATELY INTERCONNECTED
ALWAYS STORE FOOD
AMBITION IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS COMPLACENCY
AMBIVALENCE CAN RUIN YOUR LIFE
AN ELITE IS INEVITABLE
ANGER OR HATE CAN BE A USEFUL MOTIVATING FORCE
ANY SURPLUS IS IMMORAL
ANYTHING IS A LEGITIMATE AREA OF INVESTIGATION
AT TIMES INACTIVITY IS PREFERABLE TO MINDLESS FUNCTIONING
AT TIMES YOUR UNCONSCIOUS IS TRUER THAN YOUR CONSCIOUS MIND
AUTOMATION IS DEADLY
AWFUL PUNISHMENT AWAITS REALLY BAD PEOPLE
BAD INTENTIONS CAN YEILD GOOD RESULTS
BEING ALONE WITH YOURSELF IS INCREASINGLY UNPOPULAR
BEING BORED CAN MAKE YOU DO CRAZY THINGS
BEING HAPPY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE
BEING HONEST IS NOT ALWAYS THE KINDEST WAY
BEING JUDGMENTAL IS A SIGN OF LIFE
BOREDOM MAKES YOU DO CRAZY THINGS
CALM IS MORE CONDUCIVE TO CREATIVITY THAN IS ANXIETY
CATEGORIZING FEAR IS CALMING
CHANGE IS VALUABLE BECAUSE IT LETS THE OPPRESSED BE TYRANTS
CHANGE IS VALUABLE WHEN THE OPPRESSED BECOME TYRANTS
CHASING THE NEW IS DANGEROUS
CHASING THE NEW IS DANGEROUS TO SOCIETY
CHILDREN ARE THE CRUELEST OF ALL
CHILDREN ARE THE HOPE OF THE FUTURE
CLASS ACTION IS A NICE IDEA WITH NO SUBSTANCE
CLASS STRUCTURE IS AS ARTIFICIAL AS PLASTIC
CONFUSING YOURSELF IS A WAY TO STAY HONEST
CRIME AGAINST PROPERTY IS RELATIVELY UNIMPORTANT
DECADENCE CAN BE AN END IN ITSELF
DECENCY IS A RELATIVE THING
DEPENDENCE CAN BE A MEAL TICKET
DESCRIPTION IS MORE VALUABLE THAN METAPHOR
DEVIANTS ARE SACRIFICED FOR GROUP SOLIDARITY
DEVIANTS ARE SACRIFICED TO INCREASE GROUP SOLIDARITY
DISGUST IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO MOST SITUATIONS
DISORGANIZATION IS A KIND OF ANESTHESIA
DISORGANIZATION IS A KIND OF ANESTHESIA
DON'T PLACE TOO MUCH TRUST IN EXPERTS
DON'T RUN PEOPLE'S LIVES FOR THEM
DRAMA OFTEN OBSCURES THE REAL ISSUES
DREAMING WHILE AWAKE IS A FRIGHTENING CONTRADICTION
DYING AND COMING BACK GIVES YOU CONSIDERABLE PERSPECTIVE
DYING SHOULD BE AS EASY AS FALLING OFF A LOG
EATING TOO MUCH IS CRIMINAL
ELABORATION IS A FORM OF POLLUTION
EMOTIONAL RESPONSES ARE AS VALUABLE AS INTELLECTUAL RESPONSES
ENJOY YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING ANYWAY
ENSURE THAT YOUR LIFE STAYS IN FLUX
EVEN YOUR FAMILY CAN BETRAY YOU
EVERY ACHIEVEMENT REQUIRES A SACRIFICE
EVERYONE'S WORK IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT
EVERYONE'S WORK IS NOT EQUALLY IMPORTANT
EVERYTHING THAT'S INTERESTING IS NEW
EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE DESERVE SPECIAL CONCESSIONS
EXPIRING FOR LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL BUT STUPID
EXPIRING FROM LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL BUT STUPID
EXPRESSING ANGER IS NECESSARY
EXTREME BEHAVIOR HAS ITS BASIS IN PATHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
EXTREME SELF CONSCIOUSNESS LEADS TO PERVERSION
EXTREME SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS LEADS TO PERVERSION
FAITHFULNESS IS A SOCIAL NOT A BIOLOGICAL LAW
FAITHFULNESS IS A SOCIAL NOT BIOLOGICAL LAW
FAKE OR REAL INDIFFERENCE IS A POWERFUL PERSONAL WEAPON
FATHERS OFTEN USE TOO MUCH FORCE
FEAR IS THE GREATEST INCAPACITATOR
FREEDOM IS A LUXURY NOT A NECESSITY
GO ALL OUT IN / ROMANCE / AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHEREVER
GOING WITH THE FLOW IS SOOTHING BUT RISKY
GOOD DEEDS EVENTUALLY ARE REWARDED
GOVERNMENT IS A BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE
GRASS ROOTS AGITATION IS THE ONLY HOPE
GUILT AND SELF-LACERATION ARE INDULGENCES
HABITUAL CONTEMPT DOESN'T REFLECT A FINER SENSIBILITY
HABITUAL CONTEMPT OR DISGUST DOESN'T REFLECT A FINER SENSIBILITY
HIDING YOUR MOTIVES IS DESPICABLE
HOLDING BACK PROTECTS YOUR VITAL ENERGIES
HUMANISM IS OBSOLETE
HUMOR IS A RELEASE
IDEALS ARE REPLACED BY CONVENTIONAL GOALS AT A CERTAIN AGE
IF YOU ARE TRUSTING YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF
IF YOU AREN'T POLITICAL YOUR PERSONAL LIFE SHOULD BE EXEMPLARY
IF YOU CAN'T LEAVE YOUR MARK GIVE UP
IF YOU HAVE MANY DESIRES LIFE WILL BE INTERESTING
IF YOU LIVE SIMPLY THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE PARTS YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE
IGNORING ENEMIES IS THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT
ILLNESS IS A STATE OF MIND
IMPOSING ORDER IS MAN'S VOCATION FOR CHAOS IS HELL
IMPOSING ORDER IS MAN'S VOCATION; CHAOS IS A VERSION OF HELL
IN A DREAM YOU SAW A WAY TO SURVIVE AND YOU WERE FULL OF JOY
IN SOME INSTANCES IT'S BETTER TO DIE THAN TO CONTINUE
INHERITANCE MUST BE ABOLISHED
IT CAN BE HELPFUL TO KEEP GOING NO MATTER WHAT
IT IS HEROIC TO TRY TO STOP TIME
IT IS IN YOUR SELF INTEREST TO FIND A WAY TO BE VERY TENDER
IT IS MAN'S FATE TO OUTSMART HIMSELF
IT'S A GIFT TO THE WORLD NOT TO HAVE BABIES
IT'S BETTER TO BE LONELY THAN TO BE WITH INFERIOR PEOPLE
IT'S BETTER TO BE NAIVE THAN JADED
IT'S BETTER TO STUDY THE FACT THAN ANALYZE ITS HISTORY
IT'S BETTER TO STUDY THE LIVING FACT THAN TO ANALYZE HISTORY
IT'S CRUCIAL TO HAVE AN ACTIVE FANTASY LIFE
IT'S GOOD TO GIVE EXTRA MONEY TO CHARITY
IT'S GOOD TO TRY TO STAY CLEAN ON ALL LEVELS
IT'S HARD TO KNOW IF YOU'RE CRAZY IF YOU FEEL YOU'RE IN DANGER ALL THE TIME NOW
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO RECONCILE YOUR HEART AND HEAD
IT'S JUST AN ACCIDENT YOUR PARENTS ARE YOUR PARENTS
IT'S NOT GOOD TO LIVE ON CREDIT
IT'S VITAL TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
ITS IMPORTANT TO STAY CLEAN ON ALL LEVELS
JUST BELIEVING SOMETHING CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN
KILLING IS UNAVOIDABLE BUT IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF
KILLING IS UNAVOIDABLE BUT NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF
KNOWING YOURSELF LETS YOU UNDERSTAND OTHERS
KNOWLEDGE SHOULD BE ADVANCED AT ALL COSTS
LABOR IS A LIFE-DESTROYING ACTIVITY
LACK OF CHARISMA CAN BE FATAL
LEARN THINGS FROM THE GROUND UP
LEARN TO TRUST YOUR OWN EYES
LEISURE TIME IS A GIGANTIC SMOKESCREEN
LISTEN WHEN YOUR BODY TALKS
LOOKING BACK IS THE FIRST SIGN OF AGING AND DECAY
LOVING ANIMALS IS A SUBSTITUTE ACTIVITY
LOW EXPECTATIONS ARE GOOD PROTECTION
MANUAL LABOR CAN BE REFRESHING AND WHOLESOME
MEN ARE NOT MONOGAMOUS BY NATURE
MEN DON'T PROTECT YOU ANYMORE
MODERATION KILLS THE SPIRIT
MONEY CREATES TASTE
MONOMANIA IS A PREREQUISITE FOR SUCCESS
MONOMANIA IS A PREREQUISITE OF SUCCESS
MORALS ARE FOR LITTLE PEOPLE
MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT FIT TO RULE THEMSELVES
MOSTLY YOU SHOULD MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
MOTHERS SHOULDN'T MAKE TOO MANY SACRIFICES
MUCH WAS DECIDED BEFORE YOU WERE BORN
MURDER HAS ITS SEXUAL SIDE
MYTHS MAKE REALITY MORE INTELLIGIBLE
NOISE CAN BE HOSTILE
NOTHING UPSETS THE BALANCE OF GOOD AND EVIL
OCCASIONALLY PRINCIPLES ARE MORE VALUABLE THAN PEOPLE
OFFER VERY LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF
OFTEN YOU SHOULD ACT LIKE YOU ARE SEXLESS
OLD FRIENDS ARE BETTER LEFT IN THE PAST
OPACITY IS AN IRRESISTIBLE CHALLENGE
PAIN CAN BE A VERY POSITIVE THING
PEOPLE ARE BORING UNLESS THEY'RE EXTREMISTS
PEOPLE ARE NUTS IF THEY THINK THEY ARE IMPORTANT
PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY DO UNLESS THEY'RE INSANE
PEOPLE WHO DON'T WORK WITH THEIR HANDS ARE PARASITES
PEOPLE WHO GO CRAZY ARE TOO SENSITIVE
PEOPLE WON'T BEHAVE IF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE
PHYSICAL CULTURE IS SECOND-BEST
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE IS ESCAPISM
PLAYING IT SAFE CAN CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE IN THE LONG RUN
POLITICS IS USED FOR PERSONAL GAIN
POTENTIAL COUNTS FOR NOTHING UNTIL IT'S REALIZED
PRESENTATION IS AS IMPORTANT AS CONTENT
PRIVATE PROPERTY CREATED CRIME
PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT
PURSUING PLEASURE FOR THE SAKE OF PLEASURE WILL RUIN YOU
PUSH YOURSELF TO THE LIMIT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
RAISE BOYS AND GIRLS THE SAME WAY
RANDOM MATING IS GOOD FOR DEBUNKING SEX MYTHS
RECHANNELING DESTRUCTIVE IMPULSES IS A SIGN OF MATURITY
RECLUSES ALWAYS GET WEAK
RECLUSES GET WEAK EVEN IF STRONG ORIGINALLY
REDISTRIBUTING WEALTH IS IMPERATIVE
REDISTRIBUTING WEALTH IS MANDATORY
RELATIVITY IS NO BOON TO MANKIND
RELIGION CAUSES AS MANY PROBLEMS AS IT SOLVES
REMEMBER YOU ALWAYS HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE
REPETITION IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN THINGS
RESOLUTIONS SERVE TO EASE YOUR CONSCIENCE
REVOLUTION BEGINS WITH CHANGES IN THE INDIVIDUAL
ROMANTIC LOVE WAS INVENTED TO MANIPULATE WOMEN
ROUTINE SMALL EXCESSES ARE WORSE THAN THE OCCASIONAL DEBAUCH
SACRIFICING YOURSELF FOR A BAD CAUSE IS NOT A MORAL ACT
SALVATION CAN'T BE BOUGHT AND SOLD
SELF-AWARENESS CAN BE CRIPPLING
SELF-CONTEMPT CAN DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD
SELFISHNESS IS THE MOST BASIC MOTIVATION
SELFLESSNESS IS THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT
SEX DIFFERENCES ARE HERE TO STAY
SIN IS A MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL
SLIPPING INTO MADNESS IS GOOD FOR THE SAKE OF COMPARISON
SLOPPY THINKING GETS WORSE OVER TIME
SOLITUDE IS ENRICHING
SOMETHING SCIENCE ADVANCES FASTER THAN IT SHOULD
SOMETIMES ALL YOU CAN DO IS LOOK THE OTHER WAY
SOMETIMES SCIENCE ADVANCES FASTER THAN IT SHOULD
SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT IS ANTISOCIAL
STARVATION IS NATURE'S WAY
STASIS IS A DREAM STATE
STERILIZATION IS A WEAPON OF THE RULERS
STERILIZATION IS OFTEN JUSTIFIED
STRONG EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT STEMS FROM BASIC INSECURITY
STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BREED
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST APPLIES TO MEN AS WELL AS ANIMALS
SYMBOLS ARE MORE MEANINGFUL THAN THINGS THEMSELVES
TAKING A STRONG STAND PUBLICIZES THE OPPOSITE POSITION
TALKING IS USED TO HIDE ONE'S INABILITY TO ACT
TEASING PEOPLE SEXUALLY CAN HAVE UGLY CONSEQUENCES
TECHNOLOGY WILL MAKE OR BREAK US
THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR WILL BE SECRET
THE BREAKDOWN COMES WHEN YOU STOP CONTROLLING YOURSELF AND WANT THE RELEASE OF A BLOODBATH
THE CRUELEST DISAPPOINTMENT IS WHEN YOU LET YOURSELF DOWN
THE DESIRE TO REPRODUCE IS A DEATH WISH
THE FAMILY IS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME
THE IDEA OF REVOLUTION IS AN ADOLESCENT FANTASY
THE IDEA OF TRANSCENDENCE IS USED TO OBSCURE OPPRESSION
THE IDIOSYNCRATIC HAS LOST ITS AUTHORITY
THE LAND BELONGS TO NO ONE
THE MORE YOU KNOW THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE
THE MOST PROFOUND THINGS ARE INEXPRESSIBLE
THE MUNDANE IS TO BE CHERISHED
THE NEW IS NOTHING BUT A RESTATEMENT OF THE OLD
THE ONLY WAY TO BE PURE IS TO STAY BY YOURSELF
THE SUM OF YOUR ACTIONS DETERMINES WHAT YOU ARE
THE UNATTAINABLE INVARIABLY IS ATTRACTIVE
THE WORLD OPERATES ACCORDING TO DISCOVERABLE LAWS
THERE ARE TOO FEW IMMUTABLE TRUTHS TODAY
THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN INFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA
THERE'S NO SENSE BEING ANYWHERE BUT THE TOP OF THE HEAP
THERE'S NOTHING EXCEPT WHAT YOU SENSE
THERE'S NOTHING REDEEMING IN TOIL
THINKING TOO MUCH CAN ONLY CAUSE TROUBLE
THREATENING SOMEONE SEXUALLY IS A HORRIBLE ACT
TIMIDITY IS LAUGHABLE
TO DISAGREE PRESUPPOSES MORAL INTEGRITY
TORTURE IS BARBARIC
TORTURE IS HORRIBLE AND EXCITING
TRADING A LIFE FOR A LIFE IS FAIR ENOUGH
TRUE FREEDOM IS FRIGHTFUL
TRUST VISIONS THAT DON'T FEATURE BUCKETS OF BLOOD
TURN SOFT AND LOVELY ANY TIME YOU HAVE A CHANCE
UNIQUE THINGS MUST BE THE MOST VALUABLE
UNQUESTIONING LOVE DEMONSTRATES LARGESSE OF SPIRIT
USING FORCE TO STOP FORCE IS ABSURD
VIOLENCE IS PERMISSIBLE, EVEN DESIRABLE OCCASIONALLY
WAR IS A PURIFICATION RITE
WAR IS A PURIFICATION STATE
WE MUST MAKE SACRIFICES TO MAINTAIN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
WHEN SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS PEOPLE WAKE UP
WISHING THINGS AWAY IS NOT EFFECTIVE
WOMEN LOVE POWER
WORDS TEND TO BE INADEQUATE
YOU ARE A VICTIM OF THE RULES YOU LIVE BY
YOU ARE CAUGHT THINKING ABOUT KILLING ANYONE YOU WANT
YOU ARE GUILELESS IN YOUR DREAMS
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTITUTING THE MEANING OF THINGS
YOU ARE THE PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE
YOU CAN LIVE ON THROUGH YOUR DESCENDANTS
YOU CAN ONLY UNDERSTAND SOMEONE OF YOUR OWN SEX
YOU CAN PULL YOURSELF OUT OF ANY HOLE IF YOU'RE DETERMINED ENOUGH
YOU CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE SOMETHING THEY'RE NOT
YOU CAN'T FOOL OTHERS IF YOU'RE FOOLING YOURSELF
YOU DIG YOUR OWN GRAVE
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WHAT UNTIL YOU SUPPORT YOURSELF
YOU GET THE FACE YOU DESERVE
YOU HAVE NO MORE RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR FAMILY THAN TO OTHER PEOPLE
YOU HAVE TO HURT OTHERS TO BE OUT OF THE ORDINARY
YOU MUST BE INTIMATE WITH A TOKEN FEW
YOU MUST DISAGREE WITH AUTHORITY FIGURES
YOU MUST HAVE ONE GRAND PASSION
YOU MUST KNOW WHERE YOU STOP AND THE WORLD BEGINS
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT PEOPLE REALLY THINK OF YOU
YOU OWE THE WORLD NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND
YOU SHOULD ENJOY YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING ANYWAY
YOU SHOULD GO ALL OUT IN ROMANCE AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHEREVER
YOU SHOULD STUDY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
YOUR ACTIONS ARE POINTLESS IF NO ONE NOTICES THEM
YOUR OLDEST FEARS ARE THE WORST ONES

Truisms mentioning gender & family (12)

A MAN CAN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE A MOTHER
A RELAXED MAN IS NOT NECESSARILY A BETTER MAN
EVEN YOUR FAMILY CAN BETRAY YOU
FATHERS OFTEN USE TOO MUCH FORCE
IT'S JUST AN ACCIDENT THAT YOUR PARENTS ARE YOUR PARENTS
MEN ARE NOT MONOGAMOUS BY NATURE
RAISE BOYS AND GIRLS THE SAME WAY
ROMANTIC LOVE WAS INVENTED TO MANIPULATE WOMEN
SEX DIFFERENCES ARE HERE TO STAY
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST APPLIES TO MEN AND ANIMALS
THE FAMILY IS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME
YOU CAN UNDERSTAND SOMEONE OF YOUR SEX ONLY

Truisms mentioning love (6)

EXPIRING FOR LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL BUT STUPID
FAITHFULNESS IS A SOCIAL NOT A BIOLOGICAL LAW
GO ALL OUT IN ROMANCE AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY
LOVING ANIMALS IS A SUBSTITUTE ACTIVITY
ROMANTIC LOVE WAS INVENTED TO MANIPULATE WOMEN
UNQUESTIONING LOVE DEMONSTRATES LARGESSE OF SPIRIT

Truisms mentioning sex (5)

MURDER HAS ITS SEXUAL SIDE
OFTEN YOU SHOULD ACT LIKE YOU ARE SEXLESS
RANDOM MATING IS GOOD FOR DEBUNKING SEX MYTHS
TEASING PEOPLE SEXUALLY CAN HAVE UGLY CONSEQUENCES
THREATENING SOMEONE SEXUALLY IS A HORRIBLE ACT

Truisms mentioning authority, law & power (5)

ABUSE OF POWER COMES AS NO SURPRISE
MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT FIT TO RULE THEMSELVES
STERILIZATION IS A WEAPON OF THE RULERS
YOU ARE A VICTIM OF THE RULES YOU LIVE BY
GOVERNMENT IS A BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE
YOU MUST DISAGREE WITH AUTHORITY FIGURES

Truisms mentioning violence (6)

VIOLENCE IS PERMISSIBLE EVEN DESIRABLE OCCASIONALLY
KILLING IS UNAVOIDABLE BUT NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF
IN SOME INSTANCES IT'S BETTER TO DIE THAN TO CONTINUE
WAR IS A PURIFICATION RITE
MURDER HAS ITS SEXUAL SIDE
YOU HAVE TO HURT OTHERS TO BE EXTRAORDINARY

Statistics & Info

How often some nouns are used. Nouns with less than 3 instances are ommitted.

"you"	41 times
"people"	17 times
"yourself"	12 times
"life"	10 times
"way"	10 times
"nothing"	8 times
"things"	8 times
"self"	7 times
"time"	5 times
"world"	5 times
"freedom"	4 times
"something"	4 times
"others"	3 times
"anything"	3 times
"love"	3 times
"mind"	3 times
"idea"	3 times
"man"	3 times
"sex"	3 times

How often some adjectives are used. Adjectives with less than 3 instances are omitted.

"good"	11 times
"better"	7 times
"many"	5 times
"important"	5 times
"valuable"	4 times
"new"	4 times
"best"	3 times
"personal"	3 times
"little"	3 times
"strong"	3 times