Raven 18: Timid and Truthful

Speaking truth necessarily always does good. Is that true?

Case

Mole had just arrived at Tallspruce. Raven said, "Was there something you wanted to ask?"
Mole cleared his throat and asked, "Should I always tell the truth? Sometimes it does more harm than good."
Raven said, "then it's not the truth."
Mole sighed and was silent.
Owl spoke up and asked, "Then should I lie at such a time?"
Raven said, "Tell the truth."

Verse

Declarative sentences come in true and false.
Sycamore trees, not so much.
A river, even as it winds back on itself, flows nothing but truth.
The moon, even as it blocks the sun, shines nothing but truth.

Case by Robert Aitken; introduction and verse by Meredith Garmon

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