In the quote from Salman Rushdie's "Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights," the complexity and treachery of history are highlighted. It suggests that history is often shrouded in half-truths, ignorance, and deceptions, making the pursuit of truth a daunting challenge. The notion that finding the truth is akin to searching for a chimera underscores the difficulty believers face in reconciling absolute truths with the inherently subjective nature of human experience and belief.

Moreover, Rushdie emphasizes the importance of holding onto the concept of truth, despite its perceived relativity. He critiques the idea that truth can be dismissed in favor of personal belief systems, stating that it is an essential concept that cannot be surrendered to those who claim that everything is relative. This insistence on the value of truth reveals a deeper philosophical commitment to understanding and recognizing what is real, even amidst the chaos of misrepresentation and conflicting narratives.