Pragmatism and existentialism can pull in opposite directions, as can the intellectual counterculture and mainstream society. The counterculturalists pursue truth and artistic greatness, regardless of the consequences. They're often marginalized social outsiders, so they don't compromise their vision by adhering to what's popular or what's good for the collective. The truth needn't please us, nor need great art comfort us. These goods tend to have the opposite effect. So there's a longstanding culture war, and we pick our sides.

The axiom you proposed before seems to me pragmatic, although your discussion of it was filled with confusing double negatives. You said the truth isn't harmful. I don't see why that should be so unless you're presupposing some kind of simplistic theism.