The worst jests are those that are true.
The worst jests are those that are true.
Meaning in plain English
A joke can hurt especially when it exposes a real vulnerability. Accuracy does not make ridicule kind, useful or appropriate to the setting.
Example
During a team lunch, someone jokes about a colleague’s real difficulty reading aloud. Another person changes the subject and offers private support instead.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The sting comes from recognising something true in the joke. A person may find it harder to dismiss a remark about an actual mistake or insecurity than an obvious exaggeration. The proverb concerns the effect of humour on the person who becomes its subject. Before turning a true observation into entertainment, consider consent, audience and the relationship. A sensitive fact might be better addressed privately and constructively. Truth and cruelty can occur in the same sentence.
When to use it
Use it when humour relies on exposing someone’s difficulty.
Keep in mind
Not every truthful joke is hurtful; shared consent and context matter. The target’s reaction deserves attention.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 11; French section, paragraph 215; source wording: Ce sont les pires bourdes que les vraies.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗
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