Who claims Truth, Truth abandons. History is hir'd, or coerc'd, only in Interests that must ever prove base. She is too innocent, to be left within the reach of anyone in Power,- who need but touch her, and all her Credit is in the instant vanish'd, as if it had never been. She needs rather to be tended lovingly and honorably by fabulists and counterfeiters, Ballad-Mongers and Cranks of ev'ry Radius, Masters of Disguise to provide her the Costume, Toilette, and Bearing, and Speech nimble enough to keep her beyond the Desires, or even the Curiosity, of Government. - Thomas Pynchon {Mason & Dixon}
In this quote from Thomas Pynchon's "Mason & Dixon," the author reflects on the elusive nature of truth and its vulnerability in the hands of those in power. He suggests that truth is often manipulated or distorted for the sake of personal or political interests, leading to a situation where genuine history cannot flourish. Those in power can easily twist or erase historical truths, rendering them invisible and irrelevant.
Pynchon argues that truth requires careful and respectful handling, advocating for a playful approach by storytellers and creative thinkers who can dress truth in different narratives. By doing so, they keep it out of government reach, preserving its essence far from the ambitions and manipulations of authority figures. This perspective highlights the importance of creative expression in safeguarding the purity of truth amidst the chaos of power dynamics.
