How important is the pursuit of truth?

Plato and the ancient Greeks seemed to believe that the pursuit of truth was one of the most important pursuits. Today though I don't see a lot of emphasis on finding truth in both society and academia. It can be argued that the pursuit of truth can be the complete opposite of seeking wealth and gain. For instance, look at former NFL players who risk their health for the game and the paycheque.<br><br>Plato said, 'We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.' It seems to me that it can be a hard pill to swallow when we find truth that is against our own self-interest.