Who the hell is Truth?


In Full Metal Alchemist, who is the character (or the concept really) of
**Truth**? What does he symbolize? What is his purpose?

From what I guess, he's some sort of your inner God, because he seems to know
you better than you do yourself. He knows the best way to punish you, the way
that would hurt you the most. He must be tied with alchemy and alchemical
knowledge, but _what_ is he?




Truth himself (itself?) states,

> Who am I? One name you might have for me is the world, or you might call me
> the universe, or perhaps God, or perhaps the Truth. I am All, and I am One.
> So, of course, this also means that I am you. I am the truth of your
> despair, the inescapable price of your boastfulness.

Truth is a being that has no physical form, and a being that regulates all
alchemical exchanges that take place. He essentially exists in order to
prevent humans from "playing God" with alchemy; when human transmutation is
performed, for example, Truth intervenes as it is seen as an unfair
(inequivalent) exchange.

In these ways, Truth is somewhat symbolic of God. It has also been compared to
gods in other mythos, such as Hera, a Greek goddess who was known to
vengefully challenge heroes.

> Hera was known for her jealous and vengeful nature, most notably against
> Zeus's lovers and offspring, but also against mortals who crossed her, such
> as Pelias.
>
> — [Hera, Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hera)

However, it is important to realize that
**[Truth](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Truth) is _not_
[God](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Eye_of_God)**. While it is certain that they
are linked in some way, God is the entity that lies within the domain of the
Gate (the eye and mass of black hands that restrain his "victims").

![Truth, the Gate, and God](https://i.stack.imgur.com/t7fir.png)  
( _The Gate, Truth sitting in front, and God within it.
Source:[Wikia](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/File:Gate.png)_)

When an alchemist pays the toll and is forced through the Gate by Truth (and
by God), they are shown all knowledge about alchemy. Their minds can only
absorb so much, but enough is clear that they are able to perform their
alchemy without requiring a transmutation circle.

So, what _exactly_ is Truth? He is a vengeful, godlike being, who is linked to
God, and governs all alchemical exchanges performed by alchemists. He has no
physical form and exists only metaphysically within the mind of each
alchemist.




Truth himself (itself?) states,

> Who am I? One name you might have for me is the world, or you might call me
> the universe, or perhaps God, or perhaps the Truth. I am All, and I am One.
> So, of course, this also means that I am you. I am the truth of your
> despair, the inescapable price of your boastfulness.

Truth is a being that has no physical form, and a being that regulates all
alchemical exchanges that take place. He essentially exists in order to
prevent humans from "playing God" with alchemy; when human transmutation is
performed, for example, Truth intervenes as it is seen as an unfair
(inequivalent) exchange.

In these ways, Truth is somewhat symbolic of God. It has also been compared to
gods in other mythos, such as Hera, a Greek goddess who was known to
vengefully challenge heroes.

> Hera was known for her jealous and vengeful nature, most notably against
> Zeus's lovers and offspring, but also against mortals who crossed her, such
> as Pelias.
>
> — [Hera, Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hera)

However, it is important to realize that
**[Truth](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Truth) is _not_
[God](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Eye_of_God)**. While it is certain that they
are linked in some way, God is the entity that lies within the domain of the
Gate (the eye and mass of black hands that restrain his "victims").

![Truth, the Gate, and God](https://i.stack.imgur.com/t7fir.png)  
( _The Gate, Truth sitting in front, and God within it.
Source:[Wikia](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/File:Gate.png)_)

When an alchemist pays the toll and is forced through the Gate by Truth (and
by God), they are shown all knowledge about alchemy. Their minds can only
absorb so much, but enough is clear that they are able to perform their
alchemy without requiring a transmutation circle.

So, what _exactly_ is Truth? He is a vengeful, godlike being, who is linked to
God, and governs all alchemical exchanges performed by alchemists. He has no
physical form and exists only metaphysically within the mind of each
alchemist.

