Speak (the) truth to power (quasi-precursors)

[Jonathan Lighter]

Very unfortunately, GB comes up with nothing of chronological significance
concerning "speak[ing] truth unto power," "spoke...[un]to...," or
"speaks...[un]to...."

JL




On Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 10:55 AM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Re: Speak (the) truth to power (quasi-precursors)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> At 7/5/2012 08:46 AM, Stephen Goranson wrote:
> >Though the 1950s Friends were unlikely to have read these texts:
>
> My guess would be that the 1750s Quakers might have been likely to
> read the first ("Free Briton's Advice", 1748) since by its title it
> would be stating an opposition to exercise of arbitrary power by the
> British government of the time, something colonials of the same
> period would be very interested in.  Perhaps the 1950s Quakers
> "coining" the expression consulted their archives?
>
> I note that
>
> http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_origin_of_the_expression_speak_truth_unto_power
> says: "The phrase "to speak truth unto power" has long been
> associated with the British Civil Service."  I can imagine it arising
> around the late 1740s, during or just after the administration of
> Robert Walpole, notorious for appointing yes-men, for rewarding
> supporters with government positions.
>
> Joel
>
> >[EECO] TITLE:
> >A free Briton's advice to the free citizens of Dublin. Numb. II.
> >AUTHOR:
> >Priscus, Helvidius.
> >DETAILS:
> >Dublin, [1748]. 15 pp. page 13
> >
> >  Strange it is that Men should be found abject enough to tremble at
> > the very Thought
> >of speaking Truth to Power!
> >
> >And this (unconfirmed) snippet [British Newspaper Archive]:
> >
> >Exeter and Plymouth Gazette
> >Tue 25 Nov 1924 p. 2 article
> >Devon, England
> >Correspondence. We do not necessarily endorse the opinions of our
> >correspondents. We cannot enter into any discussion concerning
> >rejected communications
> >1921 Words [presumably read: prophet]
> >
> >     " ophet speaking truth to power over selfishness and sloth,
> > When silence falls such a voice, there ... ?
> >
> >Stephen Goranson
> >www.duke.edu/~goranson
> >
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>
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"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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