ProverbMoralityBiblical origin

The truth shall set you free

Meaning: Honesty and truth lead to liberation.

Where it's from: The Bible, John 8:32

Origin: From the Gospel of John (8:32): "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Jesus meant freedom from sin; the verse has since become a secular motto, carved into the lobby wall of the CIA's original headquarters building in 1961.

Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German

  • French: La vérité vous rendra libres (literally: The truth will make you free)
  • Spanish: La verdad os hará libres (literally: The truth will make you free)
  • Japanese: 真理はあなたたちを自由にする (Shinri wa anatatachi wo jiyū ni suru) (literally: The truth will make you free)
  • German: Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen (literally: The truth will make you free)

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