Why the Opposite of Every Truth is Also True

Ever noticed how life is full of advice that contradicts itself?

“Look before you leap.”
But also, “He who hesitates is lost.”

“Good things come to those who wait.”
But also, “The early bird catches the worm.”

Wait a second… so should I wait patiently, or jump quickly? Should I seize the moment or think things through?

The weird truth is: both are true. And their opposites? Also true. Life, as it turns out, is one giant paradoxical ocean, and we’re all swimming in it.

Though I’ve explored this idea before in a blog called “Why Proverbs/Idioms Aren’t Universal”, where I talked about how every proverb seems to have a counter-proverb. You can consider this an extension to that blog.

The Truth About Truth

Let’s take the classic example: “Patience is a virtue.”

Yes, it sounds wise, and sometimes it really is. Like when you’re waiting for your plants to grow, or your career to take off, or your Uber driver who’s taking five extra turns for no reason.

But then comes real life – like standing in a never-ending queue at the coffee shop when you’re already late for work. That’s when the opposite truth kicks in: “Time waits for no one.”

Do you patiently wait and risk being late… or do you ditch the coffee and save your job? Sometimes, virtue needs caffeine. Fast.

So what gives?

The answer is – truth is flexible. It bends, shifts, and stretches depending on the moment, the context, and sometimes, your mood.

Context is everything. What’s true in a calm sea might kill you in a storm. What works at 25 may not work at 45. What saved you last year may suffocate you this year. This is the paradox.

Welcome to the Paradox Club

You’re not crazy for feeling confused. Life is paradoxical. Always has been.

Here are a few more contradictory truths that are both valid:

Be yourself. But also, keep evolving.

Speak your truth. But also, listen deeply.

Don’t care what people think. But also, be empathetic.

Trust the timing of your life. But also, don’t wait forever.

The human brain isn’t too fond of these contradictions. It likes clean answers and clear labels. But real wisdom? It often lives in the tension between opposites.

Think of your beliefs not as permanent ink but as something more flexible, like a sticky note or a pair of flip-flops. Your belief that “hard work pays off” may serve you well, until it burns you out and you realise that sometimes, rest is the real productivity.

Your belief that “love conquers all” might hold you through heartbreak — until you realise that boundaries are love, too.

That doesn’t make your old belief wrong. It just means it had a season.

Beliefs are tools. Not identities. Not prison cells. You don’t have to keep holding onto something just because it once worked.

Let Me Tell You About the Time I Couldn’t Choose Between Two Truths

I once found myself at a fork in the road — not a metaphorical one, an actual one. I was hiking alone, thinking deep thoughts (as one does), and came across two signs. One said, “Shortcut to summit.” The other said, “Scenic long route.”

In one ear, I heard the voice of productivity: “Save time, be efficient. The goal is the summit.”

In the other, the romantic: “Life’s about the journey, not the destination!”

So what did I do?

I stood there. For 10 minutes. Stuck between two perfectly valid truths.

Eventually, I took the long route. It rained. I slipped. I never made it to the summit. But I also saw the most ridiculous double rainbow and had the best sandwich of my life sitting on a rock.

Was it the right choice? Who knows. That’s kind of the point.

Life Isn’t a Test With One Right Answer

We’re taught to look for the answer. The best choice. The ultimate truth. But most of the time, there isn’t one. There are just choices — each with their own flavor of joy, struggle, growth, and surprise.

Sometimes you need to push.
Sometimes you need to surrender.
Sometimes you need to be brave.
Sometimes you need to sit down and cry.

You can’t apply one truth to all of life any more than you can wear flip-flops to a snowstorm. Truth changes with the weather.

The Wisdom of “It Depends”

If I could offer one underrated piece of wisdom, it’s this: ‘It depends.’

It’s not vague. It’s not lazy. It’s actually a sign of maturity.

“It depends” means you understand that every person, every situation, every moment is a universe of its own. And that maybe, just maybe, you don’t need one truth to rule them all.

So, the next time you feel super convinced that you’re right, pause.

Ask yourself, “What would the opposite of this belief look like?”
And then… “Could that also be true for someone else, somewhere, somehow?”

You’ll be amazed at how this opens you up. Not to indecision, but to compassion. To curiosity. To the possibility that there’s more than one way to live.

Surf the Paradox, Don’t Drown in It

We often treat life like a debate. Like, we need to win an argument with the world.

But what if life is more like surfing?

You don’t control the ocean. You don’t pick the waves. But you learn to ride, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes falling flat on your face, and it’s all part of the ride.

There is wisdom in both waiting and acting. In speaking and staying silent. In holding on and letting go.

You don’t need to pick a side forever. You just need to show up, feel your moment, and choose what fits right now.

So the next time you hear two totally opposite pieces of advice, smile.

You’re not stuck. You’re just surfing the paradox.

P.S. If this idea lit something up in you, go check out my earlier blog: “Why Proverbs/Idioms Aren’t Universal,” or “The Best Advice I’ve Heard So Far“. It dives deeper into how almost every wise saying has an equally wise contradiction – and how you can still find your way through the noise.

Because maybe, the truth is not about choosing one side.

Maybe the truth is: there are many truths. And you’re allowed to live them all.

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