All truth is relative and needs to be put into context to be true. Even laws of mathematics, physics and chemistry that are considered absolute truths would not be so in other dimensions. Therefore, it is always important to consider the context when declaring/accepting something as true.

That said, within our standard life context, there is a truth that translates into the popular expression: “There ain’t such thing as a free lunch.” This expression is much deeper than saying that if you are eating or using something without paying, it means that someone is paying for you, because, most of the time, it is you who pays, without knowing it, because as Noam Chomsky said: “People not only don’t know what’s happening to them, they don’t even know that they don’t know.” And that is where the danger lies.

Many people find it interesting to have/receive something for free and end up being influenced and even “dominated” by the thought that they are taking advantage, when, in fact, they are being exploited in their ignorance and/or greed. It’s like walking on a treadmill thinking you’re winning the race, but you’re always in the same place.

But this goes beyond the eventual financial dependence. Often the value you pay is not monetary, but can be with your thoughts, your beliefs, your loyalty, your affection, your dignity. In other words, it becomes a form of control exercised by a person, an organization/company, the state/government, a religion/sect, etc. that will make their truth be accepted as absolute by you.

Knowledge is the only way for people to discern truths in their contexts and not accept absolute truths, and wisdom is the only way to understand that knowledge is also relative and is a never-ending journey.