Y. N. Harari, "Why Fiction Trumps Truth"

Yuval Noah Harari, "Why Fiction Trumps Truth"

"[W]e humans know many more truths than any other

animal, but we also believe in much more nonsense."

"Even the most extreme zealots and fanatics can often

compartmentalize their irrationality so that they believe

nonsense in some fields, while being eminently rational

in others."

"Should they aim to unite people by making sure

everyone believes in the same fiction, or should they

let people know the truth even at the price of disunity?

... The most powerful scholarly establishments in

history — whether of Christian priests ... or Communist

ideologues — placed unity above truth. That’s why

they were so powerful."