Skip to content

The truth resists simplicity

A line Hank attributes to John and builds a video on: a simple truth about how rare simple truths are.

Early context: Hank recalls John recently telling him that 'it all comes down to the fact that the truth resists simplicity', a line he loves. — YOU ARE WRONG! 00:00:29

in-group term (phrase) · in 9 videos, 2011–2026 · peak 2011 (5 videos) · still in use in 2026

Videos per year: 2011: 5 · 2012: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2026: 1

Every video

2011

date video use what is said
2011-01-19 YOU ARE WRONG! 00:00:29 mention Hank recalls John recently telling him that 'it all comes down to the fact that the truth resists simplicity', a line he loves.
2011-01-21 Looking for Alaska Five Years After the Printz Award 00:00:00 mention John continues the brothers' discussion of how the truth resists simplicity by talking about narrative complexity, starting with himself.
2011-06-01 The Evil Baby Orphanage Returns...for George Washington? 00:01:57 mention John says he is not blaming Washington for a century of slavery or 600,000 deaths, only that, as usual, the truth resists simplicity.
2011-06-24 On Religion (Redux) 00:00:00 mention The description frames the video as closing an unplanned 'Religion Theme Week' and revisiting the 2011 vlogbrothers theme that the truth resists simplicity, so we must live with ambiguity.
2011-09-12 Adorable Baby and Insufficient Cartography 00:01:29 mention John says that all year the brothers have been talking about how the truth resists simplicity.

2012

date video use what is said
2012-07-17 Hitler and Sex! 00:03:23 mention John says the truth resists simplicity, whether TV executives want to accept it or not.

2014

date video use what is said
2014-11-18 How to Never Feel Embarrassed Again 00:02:00 mention Hank: feeling fine about being wrong is logical, because, as he has said before, he is a towering mountain of ignorance, all simplicity is a lie, and even when right you're a little wrong.

2023

date video use what is said
2023-08-25 Remission 00:04:40 mention Asked whether there is cancer inside him now, Hank says he is also confused: nobody knows whether cancer remains, whether his immune system will clear it, or whether he will relapse.

2026

date video use what is said
2026-10-08 The Test of a First Rate Intelligence 00:04:23 mention Meeting so many nerdfighters on tour reminded John the internet is not merely bad; thinking it is fails to hold opposed truths, since the truth resists simplicity.