So it is more useful to watch a man in times of peril, and in adversity to discern what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn from the depths of his heart, and the mask is torn off, reality remains.

Titus Lucretius Carus
About This Quote

This is a nice little quote. It means that in times of crisis, people do reveal their true character. They will not hide behind a mask, rather they reveal who they are without any pretenses or illusions. When Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990, most people were skeptical of his commitment to the cause of justice and truth.

However, the South African people saw through the façade and knew the truth about Nelson Mandela when they saw him in times of trouble.

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