It many times falls out that we deem ourselves much deceived in others, because we first deceived ourselves.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat one’s self. All sin is easy after that.
—Philip James Bailey (1816–1902) English Poet
We never deceive for a good purpose; knavery adds malice to falsehood.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
All deception in the course of life is indeed nothing else but a lie reduced to practice, and falsehood passing from words into things.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
There is less misery in being cheated than in that kind of wisdom which perceives, or thinks it perceives, that all mankind are cheats.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
There are three persons you should never deceive: your physician, your confessor, and your lawyer.
—Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (1717–97) English Art Historian, Man of Letters, Politician
No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true.
—Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–64) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Were we to take as much pains to be what we ought, as we do to disguise what we are, we might appear like ourselves without being at the trouble of any disguise at all.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He that has no real esteem for any of the virtues, can best assume the appearance of them all.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Deceivers are the most dangerous members of society.—They trifle with the best affections of our nature, and violate the most sacred obligations.
—George Crabbe
The easiest person to deceive is one’s own self.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
When once a concealment or a deceit has been practiced in matters where all should be fair and open as day, confidence can never be restored, any more than you can restore the white bloom to the grape or plum that you once pressed in your hand.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Idiots only may be cozened twice.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Who dares think one thing, and another tell, my soul detests him as the gates of hell.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
It is as easy to deceive one’s self without perceiving it, as it is difficult to deceive others without their finding it out.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Of all the evil spirits abroad in the world, insincerity is the most dangerous.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
No man was ever so much deceived by another as by himself.
—George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746–1816) British Nobleman, Politician
The surest way of making a dupe is to let your victim suppose you are his.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Many an honest man practices on himself an amount of deceit, sufficient, if practiced on another, and in a little different way, to send him to the State prison.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Deceive the rich and powerful if you will, but don’t insult them.
—Japanese Proverb
Leave a Reply