21st Century: Query 113 (Emily Dickinson)
“Tell the
truth, but tell it slant.”
~ Emily Dickinson was an American poet who lived much of her
life in isolation. She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, into a prominent
family with strong ties to its community. After studying at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth,
she briefly attended the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before
returning to her family’s house in Amherst.
What does Dickinson mean by telling the truth “slant”?
Should we always strive to tell the absolute truth? Why or why not?
Are “white lies” benign? Why or why not?