In Pop Culture: A phrase adopted by dissidents who've chosen a non-violent approach by using truth to oppose perceived acts of oppression by the government.

Note: The phrase is sometimes misappropriated by some groups with irrational fears.

Historically: The best argument so far is that the phrase spoken using these exact words is attributed to pamphlet called "Speak Truth to Power: a Quaker Search for an Alternative to Violence", published in 1955. Older phrases similar in nature with practicality the same meaning dated back much earlier.

This phrase originated with the Quakers in a 1955 pamphlet (Speak Truth to Power: A Quaker Search for an Alternative to Violence) promoting pacifism, in the belief that love can overcome hatred. It has come to mean "speaking out to those in authority" and is now used in politics and human rights activism.

To Speak the Truth to Power can be applied today to those in the people's House, the House of Representatives, who are speaking the truth to "the powers that be" in the more senior Senate and in the Executive branch of government. Regardless of which political party controls these branches of government, after an election in which control of the House changes parties, and when the Senate and/or the White House are in the control of the other party, truly the new members of the House can Speak the Truth to Power. Many sayings originate in one group and spread to the general public, from jazz, a movie line, etc. While this saying may have originated with liberals, it probably originated when liberals were in the minority. The more salient feature is not whether the speaker of the saying is liberal or conservative, but whether (s)he is in power or not.