"Our society finds truth too strong a medicine to digest undiluted. In its purest form, truth is not a polite tap on the shoulder. It is a howling reproach"

Ted Koppel suggests that while truth is essential, it is often too potent and uncomfortable for society to accept without some filtration or dilution. The metaphor of truth as a strong medicine conveys the idea that, unlike a mild remedy, truth’s effects can be jarring, even painful. Society, he implies, tends to water down or mask truth to make it more palatable, choosing half-truths, euphemisms, or even avoidance over direct confrontation with reality.

Truth, at its core, demands an honest reckoning; it exposes flaws, contradictions, and uncomfortable realities. Describing truth in its "purest form" as something far from gentle, a "howling reproach", Koppel highlights its capacity to challenge, unsettle, and disrupt our comfort zones. The tap on the shoulder, a gentle nudge, contrasts sharply with the howling reproach, a forceful, inescapable call to attention that compels acknowledgment and potentially forces change.

Such confrontation often creates anxiety or resistance because it may threaten the foundations of beliefs, habits, or social structures. People and institutions may prefer narratives that affirm rather than question, choosing narratives that reinforce cohesion and stability, even if that stability is built on illusions or omissions. The inclination to avoid undiluted truth stems from a desire to preserve comfort, security, and sometimes, self-deception.

Koppel’s insight is especially relevant in contexts where truth-telling is essential yet challenging, such as journalism, politics, or personal relationships. The cost of facing pure truth can be high, demanding courage, vulnerability, and willingness to accept change. Yet by diluting truth, society risks stagnation, hypocrisy, and a distorted understanding of itself and its challenges. Koppel’s words serve as a cautionary reminder that genuine progress and integrity rely on the capacity to face truth in its unvarnished, sometimes painful, entirety.