
Have you heard the phrase “It is what it is”? Or maybe “Actions speak louder than words”? These are truisms—statements so widely accepted as true that they are often considered common sense.
What is a truism?
A truism is a statement that is true by definition. It states a tidbit of wisdom that is so self-evident that it appears redundant or hardly worth mentioning. Think of all the times you’ve read or heard an expression, only to go “duh…”
It might sound wise or meaningful but doesn’t really provide new information. Its traits include:
- expressing obvious truth that is already known.
- repeating information redundantly and without adding substance.
- lack of meaningful content and only restating the obvious.
For example, imagine starting a new hobby. You’re struggling. You fail more than you succeed. And when you succeed, it’s nowhere near the best. Then someone tells you “practice makes perfect”. It is true, but it is also not helpful. Maybe it would’ve been better off unsaid.
However, truisms can also be hard to detect because of their subjective nature. What you find obvious might be profound to another.
Types of Truisms
Most truisms are just bland statements with no category. However, a few can be classified into:
- Cliches are statements that are said so often that they lose meaning.
- Platitudes are trite, moralistic statements that sound wise initially but are false or lack meaning.
- Bromides are boring remarks intended to comfort or appease but don’t really help the person.
- Lapalissades are truisms that produce a comical effect. The word is derived from Jacques de la Palice, whose epitaph, “If he were not dead, he would still be envied.” was misread and turned into “If he were not dead, he would still be alive.”
Truism Examples
Here is a list of truisms that are commonly used in English. You’ll find them in everyday language, speeches, and marketing.
- “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
- “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
- “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
- “A fact is a fact.”
- “Boys will be boys.”
- “The past is behind us.”
- “Knowledge is power.”
- “Patience is a virtue.”
- “Life isn’t fair.”
- “Honesty is the best policy.”
- “We all die someday.”
- “Nobody’s perfect.”
- “Thoughts and prayers.”
- “Good things come to those who wait.”
- “Money can’t buy happiness.”
- “Some things never change.”
- “Everything happens for a reason.”
- “It really do be like that sometimes.”
- “Whatever will be, will be.”
- “There’s no place like home.”
Truisms in Pop Culture and Literature
Here are a few specific examples of truisms you can find in pop culture and literature.
- “This above all: to thine own self be true.”—Hamlet by Shakespeare
- “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”—Yogi Berra
- “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”—Wayne Gretzky
- “The past is the past.”—Atonement by Ian McEwan
- “Things are as they are.”—The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
- “Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.”—Groucho Marx
- “The truth is out there.”—The X-Files
- “With great power comes great responsibility.”—Spider-Man
- “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”—Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”—Lao Tzu
- “What does not kill me makes me stronger.”—Twilight of the Idols, Friedrich Nietzsche
- “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”—A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
- “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”—The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
- “Youth is wasted on the young.”—Fanny’s First Play by George Bernard Shaw
Truism as a Rhetorical Device
When writing, it’s important to establish your own thoughts and communicate them uniquely. Relying on truisms might show you as unoriginal or unable to express deep thought. However, some writers intentionally use truisms for various purposes.
Because they’re so commonly used, truisms can establish a common ground for you and your audience. And because people will immediately understand your meaning, you can use it to emphasize, persuade, or clarify certain parts of your work.
Truisms also simplify complicated ideas. This gives you space to add more context that’ll help in illustrating your message. They’re also short and memorable, making that same message stick better to your reader’s minds.
Just don’t overuse them. Remember, they’re oversimplified statements. You’ll be left with a piece that uses superficial language and lacks substance. Instead, use them as introductions or summaries for the more complex parts of your work.
What are your thoughts on truisms? Share them below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Tautology: When People Use Unnecessary Repetition
- Lexical Cloning: Definition and Examples
- Zeugma: How One Word Can Create Connections Between Multiple Ideas
- Polysyndeton: Definition and Examples

Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!