quotes

The Best Quotations

best-quotations.com
 


My "other" sites:

best quotations about

Truth & Lies


Truth & Lies

167 quotesVisits: 66,547

Quotations

Fyodor DostoyevskyA man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else.

—  Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1821-1881, Russian writer

64 likes
Friedrich NietzscheI'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

63 likes
Mark TwainA lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

53 likes
Jean Jacques RousseauThere are always four sides to a story: your side, their side, the truth and what really happened.

—  Jean Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778, Swiss-French philosopher

39 likes
Mark TwainIf you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

36 likes
Vladimir LeninA lie told often enough becomes the truth.

—  Vladimir Lenin, 1870-1924, Soviet revolutionary & leader

35 likes
Thomas PaineAs to the book called the bible, it is blasphemy to call it the Word of God. It is a book of lies and contradictions and a history of bad times and bad men.

—  Thomas Paine, 1737-1809, English-American writer

30 likes
Adolf HitlerThe victor will never be asked if he told the truth.

—  Adolf Hitler, 1889-1945, German dictator

28 likes
Jean JauresWhen people can not change things, they change the words.

—  Jean Jaures, 1859-1914, French Socialist leader

28 likes
John KennedyThe great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived, and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.

—  John Kennedy, 1917-1963, American President [1961-1963]

26 likes
Benjamin DisraeliThere are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics.

—  Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, British Prime Minister

23 likes
George Bernard ShawIf you're going to tell people the truth, you better make them laugh; otherwise they'll kill you.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

23 likes
George Bernard ShawThe liar's punishment is, not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

23 likes
Victor HugoIt is not easy to keep silent when silence is a lie.

—  Victor Hugo, 1802-1885, French writer

23 likes
George CarlinBy and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.

—  George Carlin, 1936-2008, American comedian

22 likes
Mark TwainWhen in doubt, tell the truth.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

21 likes
Edgar J. MohnA lie has speed, but truth has endurance.

—  Edgar J. Mohn, (unidentified)

20 likes
Otto von BismarckPeople never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election.

—  Otto von Bismarck, 1815-1898, German chancellor

19 likes
Benjamin FranklinHalf a truth is often a great lie.

—  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American politician & writer

19 likes
George OrwellIn a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

—  George Orwell, 1903-1950, British writer

19 likes
William BlakeWhen I tell any Truth it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it but for the sake of defending those who do.

—  William Blake, 1757-1827, English poet & painter

18 likes
Charles DickensAsk no questions, and you'll be told no lies.

—  Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, British writer

18 likes
Adolf HitlerYou will never learn what I am thinking. And those who boast most loudly that they know my thought, to such people I lie even more.

—  Adolf Hitler, 1889-1945, German dictator

18 likes
Jerry SeinfeldPeople who read the tabloids deserve to be lied to.

—  Jerry Seinfeld, 1954-, American comedian

17 likes
Karl KrausHow is the world ruled and led to war? Diplomats lie to journalists and believe these lies when they see them in print.

—  Karl Kraus, 1874-1936, Austrian writer

16 likes
Franklin RooseveltRepetition does not transform a lie into a truth.

—  Franklin Roosevelt, 1882-1945, American President [1936-1945]

15 likes
Friedrich NietzscheWhat is the truth, but a lie agreed upon.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

15 likes
Douglas MacArthurWe are not retreating - we are advancing in another direction.

—  Douglas MacArthur, 1880-1964, American general

15 likes
Dr. Thomas FullerA lie has no leg, but a scandal has wings.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

15 likes
QuintilianA liar should have a good memory.

—  Quintilian, 35-96 AD, Roman rhetorician

14 likes
Gabriel Garcia MarquezA lie is more comfortable than doubt, more useful than love, more lasting than truth.

—  Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1927-2014, Colombian writer

14 likes
Mark TwainWhen in doubt tell the truth. It will confound your enemies and astound your friends.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

14 likes
Oscar WildeMan is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.

—  Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900, Irish writer

14 likes
H.L. MenckenIt is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place.

—  H.L. Mencken, 1880-1956, American columnist & cultural critic

14 likes
Fyodor DostoyevskyNothing in this world is harder than speaking the truth, nothing easier than flattery.

—  Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1821-1881, Russian writer

13 likes
Benjamin DisraeliNever apologize for showing feeling, my friend. Remember that when you do so, you apologize for truth.

—  Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, British Prime Minister

12 likes
Harry TrumanI never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell.

—  Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953]

12 likes
Graham GreeneChampagne, if you are seeking the truth, is better than a lie detector.

—  Graham Greene, 1904-1991, British writer

12 likes
Dr. Thomas FullerA generous confession disarms slander.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

12 likes
Wolfgang GoetheNothing is more damaging to a new truth than an old error.

—  Wolfgang Goethe, 1749-1832, German poet & philosopher

11 likes
Terry PratchettThe truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head.

—  Terry Pratchett, 1948-2015, British writer

11 likes
Stanislaw Jerzy LecNever lie when the truth is more profitable.

—  Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, 1906-1966, Polish author of maxims

10 likes
George Bernard ShawWhen a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

9 likes
Jean CocteauI am a lie who always speaks the truth.

—  Jean Cocteau, 1889-1963, French artist

9 likes
Henry David ThoreauIt takes two to speak the truth — one to speak and another to hear.

—  Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862, American writer

9 likes
Fyodor DostoyevskyLying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.

—  Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1821-1881, Russian writer

9 likes
Ludwig WittgensteinSomeone who knows too much finds it hard not to lie.

—  Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Austrian philosopher

8 likes
Friedrich NietzscheConvictions are more dangerous foes of truth than lies.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

8 likes
Mark TwainFiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

8 likes
H.G. WellsAdvertising is legalized lying.

—  H.G. Wells, 1866-1946, British writer

8 likes
William Hazlitt Political truth is libel; religious truth, blasphemy.

—  William Hazlitt , 1778-1830, English essayist & critic

8 likes
Dr. Thomas FullerAlways tell the Truth : where it is not loved, it is respected and feared.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

8 likes
Alfred TennysonA lie that is half-truth is the darkest of all lies.

—  Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892, English poet

7 likes
George Bernard ShawMy way of joking is to tell the truth. It's the funniest joke in the world.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

7 likes
Paul ValeryThat which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.

—  Paul Valery, 1871-1945, French poet

7 likes
Alfred CapusWhen a woman begins to point out that she is honest, it's time to be wary.

—  Alfred Capus, 1858-1922, French writer

7 likes
Theodore AdornoArt is magic delivered from the lie of being truth.

—  Theodore Adorno, 1903-1969, German philosopher

7 likes
Arthur KoestlerTwo half truths do not make a truth.

—  Arthur Koestler, 1905-1983, Hungarian-British writer

7 likes
George OrwellAutobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful. A man who gives a good account of himself is probably lying, since any life when viewed from the inside is simply a series of defeats.

—  George Orwell, 1903-1950, British writer

7 likes
Georg Christoph LichtenbergThe most dangerous of all falsehoods is a slightly distorted truth.

—  Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, 1742-1799, German author of maxims

7 likes
William BlakeTruth can never be told so as to be understood and not be believed.

—  William Blake, 1757-1827, English poet & painter

6 likes
Mahatma GandhiTruth never damages a cause that is just.

—  Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948, Indian leader of independence

6 likes
Anton ChekhovAlthough you may tell lies, people will believe you, if only you speak with authority.

—  Anton Chekhov, 1860-1904, Russian writer

6 likes
D. H. LawrenceFreedom is a very great reality, but it means above all things, freedom from lies.

—  D. H. Lawrence, 1885-1930, British writer

6 likes
Henri JeansonWhen a woman tells the truth, it is to disguise a lie.

—  Henri Jeanson, 1900-1970, French critic & columnist

6 likes
Jean BaudrillardIt only takes a politician believing in what he says for others to stop believing in him.

—  Jean Baudrillard, 1929-2007, French intellectual

6 likes
Robert Oxton BoltThe man who tells lies hides the truth, but the man who tells half-lies has forgotten where he put it.

—  Robert Oxton Bolt, 1924-1955, British playwright

6 likes
Wolfgang GoetheTruth is contrary to our nature, not so error, and this for a very simple reason; truth demands that we should recognize ourselves as limited, error flatters us that, in one way or another, we are unlimited.

—  Wolfgang Goethe, 1749-1832, German poet & philosopher

6 likes
Umberto EcoSemiotics is, in principle, the discipline studying everything which can be used in order to lie.

—  Umberto Eco, 1932-2016, Italian writer

5 likes
Jules RenardYou should tell the truth from time to time, in order to believe you when you lie.

—  Jules Renard, 1864-1910, French writer

5 likes
NapoleonA book in which there were no lies would be a curiosity.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

5 likes
Dr. Thomas FullerBeware of telling an improbable truth.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

5 likes
Aleister CrowleyFalsehood is invariably the child of fear in one form or another.

—  Aleister Crowley, 1875-1945, British magician & occultist,

5 likes
Pablo PicassoYou mustn't always believe what I say. Questions tempt you to tell lies, particularly when there is no answer.

—  Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973, Spanish painter

4 likes
Niccolò MachiavelliThere is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth; but when everyone can tell you the truth, you lose their respect.

—  Niccolò Machiavelli, 1469-1527, Italian political philosopher

4 likes
Jean CocteauThere are truths which one can only say after having won the right to say them.

—  Jean Cocteau, 1889-1963, French artist

4 likes
T. S. EliotWhat is true, is true only for one time and only for one place.

—  T. S. Eliot, 1888-1965, British poet, Nobel 1948

4 likes
Giordano BrunoEven if it is not true, it is well conceived

Se non è vero, è molto ben trovato.

—  Giordano Bruno, 1548-1600, Italian monk & philosopher

4 likes
Vladimir NabokovWhen I hear a critic speaking of an author’s sincerity, I know that either the critic or the author is a fool.

—  Vladimir Nabokov, 1899-1977, Russian-American writer

4 likes
Pablo PicassoArt is a lie that makes us realize the truth.

—  Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973, Spanish painter

3 likes
AristotleHomer has taught all other poets the art of telling lies skillfully.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

3 likes
Lao-TzuThe truest sayings are paradoxical.

—  Lao-Tzu, 6th cent. BC, Chinese philosopher

3 likes
Albert CamusFiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.

—  Albert Camus, 1913-1960, French writer, Nobel 1957

3 likes
Karl KrausThe real truths are those that can be invented.

—  Karl Kraus, 1874-1936, Austrian writer

3 likes
Anton ChekhovMy own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying.

—  Anton Chekhov, 1860-1904, Russian writer

3 likes
David Lloyd GeorgeSincerity is the surest road to confidence.

—  David Lloyd George, 1863-1945, British Prime Minister [1916-1922]

3 likes
Alfred TennysonA truth looks freshest in the fashions of the day.

—  Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892, English poet

2 likes
Alfred North WhiteheadThere are no whole truths; all truths are half-truths. It is trying to treat them as whole truths that plays the devil.

—  Alfred North Whitehead, 1861-1947, British philosopher & mathematician

2 likes
Italo CalvinoFalsehood is never in words; it is in things.

—  Italo Calvino, 1923-1985, Italian writer

2 likes
Frank A. ClarkGossip needn’t be false to be evil – there’s a lot of truth that shouldn’t be passed around.

—  Frank A. Clark, 1911-1991, American cartoonist

2 likes
François RabelaisTell the truth and shame the devil.

—  François Rabelais, 1484-1553, French writer

1 likes
Cesare PaveseThe art of living is the art of knowing how to believe lies.

—  Cesare Pavese, 1908-1950, Italian writer

Nicolas Gomez DavilaAn irreligious society cannot endure the truth of the human condition. It prefers a lie, no matter how idiotic it may be.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

Thomas SowellThe fact that so many successful politicians are such shameless liars is not only a reflection on them, it is also a reflection on us. When the people want the impossible, only liars can satisfy.

—  Thomas Sowell, 1930 -, American political thinker

Thomas SowellThere are only two ways of telling the complete truth –anonymously and posthumously.

—  Thomas Sowell, 1930 -, American political thinker

Antoine RivarolReason is made up of truths that must be told and truths that are not to be told.

—  Antoine Rivarol, 1753-1801, French author of maxims

Oliver W. Holmes Sr.Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.

—  Oliver W. Holmes Sr., 1809-1894, American writer

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.Lawyers spend their professional careers shoveling smoke.

—  Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., 1841-1935, 

Gustave FlaubertThere is no truth. There is only perception.

—  Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880, French writer

Honoré de BalzacFor the journalist, whatever is probable is true.

—  Honoré de Balzac, 1799-1850, French writer

Jean RostandComing out of some mouths, the truth itself smells bad.

—  Jean Rostand, 1894-1977, French scientist & philosopher

Aldοus HuxleySeveral excuses are always less convincing than one.

—  Aldοus Huxley, 1894-1963, English writer

Bertolt BrechtAlways the victor writes the history of the vanquished. He who beats distorts the faces of the beaten. The weaker depart from this world and the lies remain.

—  Bertolt Brecht, 1898-1956, German writer

Rudyard KiplingOf all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.

—  Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936, English writer, Nobel 1907

Graham GreeneIn human relationships, kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths.

—  Graham Greene, 1904-1991, British writer

Coco ChanelA petty reason perhaps why novelists more and more try to keep a distance from journalists is that novelists are trying to write the truth and journalists are trying to write fiction.

—  Coco Chanel, 1883-1971, French fashion designer

William MaxwellIn talking about the past, we lie with every breath we draw.

—  William Maxwell, 1908-2000, American writer

William Hazlitt Lying is the strongest acknowledgment of the force of truth.

—  William Hazlitt , 1778-1830, English essayist & critic

William Hazlitt An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offense; a vain man, in order that it may.

—  William Hazlitt , 1778-1830, English essayist & critic

Anatole FranceThe first virtue of all really great men is that they are sincere. They eradicate hypocrisy from their hearts.

—  Anatole France, 1844-1924, French writer, Nobel 1921

Anatole FranceAll the historical books which contain no lies are extremely tedious.

—  Anatole France, 1844-1924, French writer, Nobel 1921

Theodore AdornoA German is someone who cannot tell a lie without believing it himself.

—  Theodore Adorno, 1903-1969, German philosopher

Noam ChomskyIt takes one minute to tell a lie, and an hour to refute it.

—  Noam Chomsky, 1928-, American linguist, philosopher, social activist

Noam ChomskyIt is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies.

—  Noam Chomsky, 1928-, American linguist, philosopher, social activist

Marcel AchardI will never be able to write my memoirs, I lie too much.

—  Marcel Achard, 1899-1974, French playwright

Robert Louis StevensonThe cruelest lies are often told in silence.

—  Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894, Scottish writer

Henry de MontherlantWe lie better in writing.

—  Henry de Montherlant, 1895-1972, French writer

Henry de MontherlantDo not lie: it is a defense that is only given to children.

—  Henry de Montherlant, 1895-1972, French writer

Joseph De MaistreExaggeration is the lie of the honest man.

—  Joseph De Maistre, 1753-1821, Savoyard diplomat & philosopher

Joseph De MaistreHistory is a constant conspiracy against the truth.

—  Joseph De Maistre, 1753-1821, Savoyard diplomat & philosopher

John Kenneth GalbraithConscience is better served by a myth.

—  John Kenneth Galbraith, 1908-2006, American-Canadian economist

Henry KissingerIt is not a matter of what is true that counts, but a matter of what is perceived to be true.

—  Henry Kissinger, 1923-2023, American politician

Henry KissingerIf you believe that their real intention is to kill you, it isn't unreasonable to believe that they would lie to you.

—  Henry Kissinger, 1923-2023, American politician

     (on doubts about PLO sincerity about recognition of Israel)

Maurice ChapelanLying is the oxygen of social breathing.

—  Maurice Chapelan, 1906-1992, French author of maxims & journalist

Maurice ChapelanTo pretend to believe a lie is an exquisite lie.

—  Maurice Chapelan, 1906-1992, French author of maxims & journalist

Ashleigh BrilliantIf you have something to say and say nothing, you are really telling a lie.

—  Ashleigh Brilliant, 1933-, British cartoonist & epigrammatist

José SaramagoIf I'm sincere today, what does it matter if I regret it tomorrow?

—  José Saramago, 1922-2010, Portuguese writer [Nobel 1998]

     (Blindness, 1995)

Stephen KingOnly enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.

—  Stephen King, 1947-, American author of horror & fantasy fiction

Stephen KingFiction is the truth inside the lie.

—  Stephen King, 1947-, American author of horror & fantasy fiction

Søren KierkegaardThere are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.

—  Søren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855, Danish philosopher

Søren KierkegaardWhere there are two people, there is untruth.

—  Søren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855, Danish philosopher

Marty RubinTruth is what's left when you run out of excuses.

—  Marty Rubin, 1930-1994, Canadian gay activist, author & journalist

P.J. O’ RourkeI like to do my principal research in bars, where people are more likely to tell the truth or, at least, lie less convincingly than they do in briefings and books.

—  P.J. O’ Rourke, 1947-2022, American columnist & writer

H.L. MenckenThe most costly of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind.

—  H.L. Mencken, 1880-1956, American columnist & cultural critic

Francis BaconTo say that a man lieth, is as much to say, as that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards men.

—  Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher

Frank HerbertThe purpose of argument is to change the nature of truth.

—  Frank Herbert, 1920-1986, American sci-fi writer

Frank HerbertShow me a completely smooth operation and I'll show you someone who's covering mistakes. Real boats rock.

—  Frank Herbert, 1920-1986, American sci-fi writer

Arthur Conan DoyleAny truth is better than indefinite doubt.

—  Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930, British writer

Frank A. ClarkI’d rather see folks doubt what’s true than accept what isn’t.

—  Frank A. Clark, 1911-1991, American cartoonist

Nicolas ChamfortFalse modesty is the most decent of all lies.

—  Nicolas Chamfort, 1740-1794, French writer

Milan KunderaOn the surface, an intelligible lie; underneath, the unintelligible truth.

—  Milan Kundera, 1929-2023, Czech writer

Susan SontagSanity is a cozy lie.

—  Susan Sontag, 1933-2004, American writer, critic, activist

StendhalThe essential quality of a historian is not to be able to invent.

—  Stendhal, 1783-1842, French writer

Italo CalvinoNovelists tell that piece of truth hidden at the bottom of every lie.

—  Italo Calvino, 1923-1985, Italian writer

Baltasar GracianTo overvalue something is a form of lying.

—  Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658, Spanish writer

Baltasar GracianA single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity.

—  Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658, Spanish writer

Ludwig WittgensteinSomeone who knows too much finds it hard not to lie.

—  Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Austrian philosopher

Thomas SowellWhen you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.

—  Thomas Sowell, 1930 -, American political thinker

Latin Quotes

SenecaTruth hates delay.

Veritas odit moras.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

55 likes

Quotes in Verse

William BlakeA truth that's told with bad intent
Beats all the lies you can invent.

—  William Blake, 1757-1827, English poet & painter

5 likes

Funny Quotes

Yogi BerraI never said most of the things I said.

—  Yogi Berra, 1925-2015, American baseball player & humorist

4 likes
Gabriel Garcia MarquezFiction was invented the day Jonas arrived home and told his wife that he was three days late because he had been swallowed by a whale.

—  Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1927-2014, Colombian writer

Ancient Greek

Marcus AureliusIf it’s not right, don’t do it; if it’s not true, don’t say it.

Ει μη καθήκει, μη πράξης· ει μη αληθές εστι, μη είπης.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor

45 likes
MenanderA slip of the tongue speaks the truth.

Η γλώσσα λανθάνουσα τ’ αληθή λέγει.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

7 likes
EuripidesThe words of truth are simple by nature.

Απλούς ο μύθος της αληθείας έφυ.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Phoenician women

6 likes
EuripidesNight is for the thieves, light is for the truth.

Κλεπτών γαρ η νυξ, της δ’ αληθείας το φως.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Iphigeneia in Tauris

5 likes
MenanderIt is always better to tell the truth at every opportunity

Αεί κράτιστον εστί τα αληθή λέγειν εν παντί καιρώ.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

5 likes
SophoclesHave courage. When you tell the truth, you will never go wrong.

Θάρσει. Λέγων τ' αληθές ου σφαλεί ποτε.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet

4 likes
HerodotusI am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.

Εγώ δε οφείλω λέγειν τα λεγόμενα, πείθεσθαί γε μεν ου παντάπασι οφείλω.

—  Herodotus, 480-420 BC, Ancient Greek historian, the “ father of History”

4 likes
SophoclesA lie never lives to be old.

Αλλ’ ουδέν έρπει ψεύδος εις γήρας χρόνου.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet

4 likes
SophoclesFalse words do not bear fruit.

Ουκ εξάγουσιν καρπόν οι ψευδείς λόγοι.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet

3 likes

Proverbs

Yiddish proverbThe truth can walk around naked; the lie has to be clothed.

—  Yiddish proverb

27 likes
German proverbTruth gives a short answer, while the lie usually babbles.

—  German proverb

7 likes
Yiddish proverbThe truth surfaces like oil on water.

—  Yiddish proverb

6 likes
Italian proverbThough not true, well said.

Se non e vero, e ben trovato.

—  Italian proverb

5 likes
International proverbThe liar is not believed even when he tells the truth.

—  International proverb

5 likes

Movie Quotes

Breathless (1960)There's no need to lie. It's like poker. The truth is best. The others still think you're bluffing, so you win.

—  from the film Breathless (1960)

7 likes



Similar categories & topics of Quotations






Similar Topics

Deception

Hypocrisy

Faith

Promises

Trust

Cunning

Mythology

Gossip

Illusions

Doubt

Suspicion

False Appearances

Nudity

Gullibility

Disbelief

The Truth

 Popular Topics
1 Friendship
2 Victory & Defeat
3 Solitude
4 Seduction
5 Self-reliance
6 Ego
7 Drinking
8 Cunning
9 Eroticism
10 Nudity
11 Vanity
12 Self-deprecation
13 Incompetence
14 Sex
15 Religion
16 Meaning of Life
17 Life
18 Death
19 Corruption
20 Democracy
 

2024: Manolis Papathanassiou