"People don't like the true and simple; they like fairy tales and humbug"

Edmond De Goncourt’s observation points to a fundamental aspect of human nature and society’s relationship with truth and fiction. People often gravitate toward stories that enchant, entertain, or reassure them, rather than those that merely present unvarnished reality. Fairy tales encapsulate hopes, ideals, and the desire for escape from the mundaneness, complexity, or hardships of life. Their allure lies in their potential to inspire and to make the improbable seem possible, often with the promise of a happy ending or poetic justice that reality rarely guarantees.

The notion of “humbug”, meaning deception, trickery, or sham, suggests that beyond innocent flights of fancy, people are also susceptible to believing in illusions, fabrications, or even outright lies, especially when these serve to simplify or justify their worldview. Shrinking from the “true and simple,” individuals might prefer narratives that cater to their emotions, biases, or desires for validation. Simple truths can be disappointing, uninspiring, or even uncomfortable, often confronting us with things we’d rather ignore. In contrast, humbug and fairy tales can affirm our sense of wonder or reinforce our preferred illusions about ourselves and the world.

This tendency has wide implications for everything from politics and media to literature and interpersonal relationships. Leaders, advertisers, and storytellers alike understand the power of myth, spectacle, and selective truths. Many people are content, even eager, to embrace comforting stories over stark reality, which can lead to both harmless fantasy and harmful delusion. The enduring popularity of legends, propaganda, and charismatic charlatans attests to the enduring human appetite for fabrication over fact. Goncourt’s insight is ultimately a commentary on both the vulnerability and imagination of people, a duality that explains much about culture, communication, and the persistent tension between reality and the versions of it that we most want to believe.