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Lincoln Steffens has a fable of a man who climbed to the top of a mountain and, standing on tiptoe, seized hold of the Truth. Satan, suspecting mischief from this upstart, had directed one of his underlings to tail him; but when the demon reported with alarm the man's success-that he had seized hold of the Truth-Satan was unperturbed. Don't worry, he yawned. I'll tempt him to institutionalize it. That
by Huston Smith
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Lincoln Steffens tells a fable about a man who ascends a mountain and grasps the Truth while on tiptoe. However, Satan, wary of the man's potential influence, sends a demon to watch him. When the demon reports the man's achievement, Satan remains calm, indicating he has a plan to undermine this newfound truth.

This illustrates the idea that even when individuals grasp profound truths, there is a danger in trying to formalize or institutionalize them. The essence of truth can be diluted as it becomes entrenched within systems and structures, which can lead to corruption or ineffectiveness.

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The World's Religions, Revised and Updated
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