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Quotes about truth and lies

458 quotes from 240 people

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The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theory is that conspiracy theorists actually believe in a conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is chaotic. The truth is, that it is not the Jewish banking conspiracy or the grey aliens or the 12-foot reptiloids from another dimension that are in control. The truth is more frightening, nobody is in control. The world is rudderless.
Alan Mooreborn 1953“The Mindscape of Alan Moore” (2003)
- Fear
Human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They cannot talk about themselves without embellishing.
Akira Kurosawa1910–1998Criterion Collection essay on Rashamon, excerpted from Something Like an Autobiography as translated by Audie E. Bock (1982)
Although human beings are incapable of talking about themselves with total honesty, it is much harder to avoid the truth while pretending to be other people.
Akira Kurosawa1910–1998Something Like an Autobiography (1981)
- Acting
Unless one always speaks the truth, one cannot find God Who is the soul of truth.
Ramakrishna1836–1886Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna (1960) (531)
- God
Keep the other person’s well being in mind when you feel an attack of soul-purging truth coming on.
Betty White1922–2021If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t) (2011)
- Advice
The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them; inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods & errors.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Letter to John Norvell (11 June 1807)
- Journalism
Since truth and reason have maintained their ground against false opinions in league with false facts, the press, confined to truth, needs no other legal restraint; the public judgment will correct false reasoning and opinions on a full hearing of all parties.
Thomas Jefferson1743–1826Jefferson’s Second Inaugural Address (1805)
- Freedom
- Journalism
Seems, madam! Nay, it is; I know not seems.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Hamlet (c. 1600), Act I, Scene II, spoken by HamletIn context
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain!
William Shakespeare1564–1616Hamlet (c. 1600), Act I, Scene V, spoken by HamletIn context
- Good & Evil
Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart.
Jane Austen1775–1817Pride and Prejudice (1813), Volume I, Chapter XIXIn context
- Women
You seem to forget that I am married, and the one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), Chapter IIn context
- Marriage
Ask no questions, and you’ll be told no lies.
Charles Dickens1812–1870Great Expectations (1861), Chapter IIIn context
“Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.”
Charles Dickens1812–1870Great Expectations (1861), Chapter XLIn context
- Facts
All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks.
Herman Melville1819–1891Moby-Dick (1851), Chapter XXXVIIn context
- Philosophy
Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!
Nathaniel Hawthorne1804–1864The Scarlet Letter (1850), Chapter XXIVIn context