"What for centuries raised man above the beast is not the cudgel but the irresistible power of unarmed truth"

This quote by Boris Pasternak speaks to the power of truth and its capability to raise humanity above the animal kingdom. Pasternak suggests that it is not physical strength or violence that has actually made it possible for people to increase above the monsters, but rather the power of truth. This power is referred to as "tempting", suggesting that it is a force that can not be denied or disregarded. It is this power that has made it possible for humans to advance and develop in manner ins which animals have not. Pasternak's quote is a suggestion of the value of truth and its capability to form our lives and our world. It is a pointer that fact is a powerful force that must not be taken lightly. It is a suggestion that truth is the foundation of progress and advancement, and that it should be accepted and appreciated.