Truth prevails
"Truth prevails"president of Czechoslovakia as well.
The motto was used during the
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first President of Czechoslovakia, adopted the shortened phrase "truth prevails" as a presidential motto shortly after independence from Austria-Hungary in 1918. The sentiment was echoed over 75 years later in Václav Havel's notion of "life in truth" and in his famous statement "Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred" (Czech: Pravda a láska musí zvítězit nad lží a nenávistí).[2]
The Latin version "Veritas vincit" was in use on the presidential banner from 1990 to 1992 as a linguistically neutral compromise reached between Czech and Slovak political representatives.
The concept of truth has a long tradition in Czech political thought. Jan Hus and John Amos Comenius connected the truth with theological aspects, while in Masaryk's ethical concepts truth was seen as the opposite of lie.[3] Hus' credo traditionally had been seen as testifying the moral and spiritual, rather than physical and military strength.[4] The Charter 77 movement had the motto "Truth prevails for those who live in truth".[5]
Other uses
- Part of this motto is used as the tagline for the English version of the manga and anime series Case Closed ("One Truth Prevails").
- Motto on the crest of Clan Keith of Scotland
- Title of a song by the Slovak rock band, Tublatanka
See also
- Satyameva Jayate, the national motto of India that has the same meaning.
Notes
- Latin: Veritas vincit)
References
- ^ "Czech Republic – Constitution". Servat.unibe.ch. 16 December 1992. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0-521-55469-1.
- ISBN 90-420-0358-8.
- ISBN 0-7425-3024-8.
- ISBN 978-0-8308-3845-5.
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