'Tis strange,–but true; for truth is always strange;
Stranger than fiction: if it could be told,
How much would novels gain by the exchange!
How differently the world would men behold!

In this excerpt from Lord Byron’s Don Juan, the poet asserts the inherent peculiarity of truth when compared to the fabrications of fiction. By stating, "truth is always strange," Byron suggests that real-life events often surpass the imaginative scenarios concocted by novelists in their oddity and unpredictability. The notion implies that if truth were more frequently captured in literature, it might enhance the genre, providing a more complex and enriching view of human experience. Byron’s reflection carries an undercurrent of irony, as it challenges the reader to reconsider the boundaries between the real and the imagined. This exploration fits seamlessly into Byron's broader commentary on societal norms and personal relationships, hinting at the potential consequences of truth revealed and the unexpected outcomes of romantic entanglements. The line invites readers to ponder the authenticity and perhaps the absurdity of human behavior and the conventional narratives that attempt to encapsulate it.