Words that are saturated with lies or atrocity, do not easily resume life.
—George Steiner (1929–2020) American Critic, Scholar
We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
What does the truth matter? Haven’t we mothers all given our sons a taste for lies, lies which from the cradle upwards lull them, reassure them, send them to sleep: lies as soft and warm as a breast!
—Georges Bernanos (1888–1948) French Author
The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
Those in possession of absolute power can not only prophesy and make their prophecies come true, but they can also lie and make their lies come true.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Man’s mind is so formed that it is far more susceptible to falsehood than to truth.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
Liars are the cause of all the sins and crimes in the world.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
You don’t tell deliberate lies, but sometimes you have to be evasive.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
Liars are always ready to take oaths.
—Vittorio Alfieri (1749–1803) Italian Poet, Dramatist
People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) German Chancellor, Prime Minister
And after all, what is a lie?
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
We should distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Never to lie is to have no lock to your door, you are never wholly alone.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
I should like to lie at your feet and die in your arms.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
I do myself a greater injury in lying that I do him of whom I tell a lie.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Clever liars give details, but the cleverest don’t.
—Unknown
One may sometimes tell a lie, but the grimace that accompanies it tells the truth.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Nobody speaks the truth when there’s something they must have.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
Life is the art of being well deceived.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
To the rulers of the state then, if to any, it belongs of right to use falsehood, to deceive either enemies or their own citizens, for the good of the state: and no one else may meddle with this privilege.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
The cruelest lies are often told in silence. A man may have sat in a room for hours and not opened his mouth, and yet come out of that room a disloyal friend or a vile calumniator.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
The middle of the road is where the white line is—and that’s the worst place to drive.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
There is nothing in the world more shameful than establishing one’s self on lies and fables.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I am different from Washington; I have a higher, grander standard of principle. Washington could not lie. I can lie, but I won’t.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.
—Unknown
When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
In human relationships, kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths.
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
He who has made it a practice to lie and deceive his father, will be the most daring in deceiving others.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet