Facts, Truth, Lies and Fiction

FACT

The Shorter OED (2 Volumes) says...... A thing done or performed (1815).... something that has really occured ( as distinct from conclusions ) (1632).....Truth; reality (1581)..... Legal meaning = The circumstances and incidents of a case, as distinct from their legal bearing (1718.)

So it seems that Truth and Fact come together, but when swearing in court we say ...The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, yet not long ago a diplomat giving evidence admitted that " he had been economical with the truth" how does this square with the main definition of a fact above and truth below ?

TRUTH

The OED says........ Conformity with fact; agreement with reality; accuracy; correctness (of statement or thought) 1570 ; Genuineness

LIES

The OED says........To speak falsely.....To convey a false impression.....To be deceptive.

My case is that we all lie most of the time, often without realising it, we are economical with the truth!
Also although it may be a fact that something has occured, the truth behind that occurance as to how, why, and by whom is often far from certain. And as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so truth can have many variations for different people.

FICTION

OED says........Invention as opposed to fact......Fictitious composition now mainly novels and stories.....A supposition known to be at variance with fact.

CONCLUSION

Some facts are certain, but there are many versions of the truth, most people lie most of the time, even if the lies are "white", and though fiction may be invented, it is often based on facts.

So what does any of that prove? Lovely picture though .....See below " TRUTH "

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