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Quotes about truth and lies

458 quotes from 240 people

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All warfare is based on deception.
Sun Tzu544–496 BCThe Art of War (5th century BC), Chapter IIn context
- War & Peace
If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.
?UnattributedOften credited to Albert Einstein
- Facts
The truth is always a trick to those who live among lies.
?Unattributed
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
?UnattributedAs used by Carl Sagan in The Demon-Haunted World (1995), Introduction, p. 7Often credited to Carl Sagan
- Facts
Fire is to represent truth because it destroys all sophistry and lies; and the mask is for lying and falsehood which conceal truth.
Leonardo da Vinci1452–1519X Studies and Sketches for Pictures and Decorations
Truth was the only daughter of Time.
Leonardo da Vinci1452–1519XIX Philosophical Maxims. Morals. Polemics and Speculations.
- Time
To lie is so vile, that even if it were in speaking well of godly things it would take off something from God’s grace; and Truth is so excellent, that if it praises but small things they become noble.
Leonardo da Vinci1452–1519XIX Philosophical Maxims. Morals. Polemics and Speculations.
Man has much power of discourse which for the most part is vain and false; animals have but little, but it is useful and true, and a small truth is better than a great lie.
Leonardo da Vinci1452–1519XIX Philosophical Maxims. Morals. Polemics and Speculations.
- Animals
Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not. Never pander to weakness. If truth is too much for intelligent people and sweeps them away, let them go; the sooner the better.
Swami Vivekananda1863–1902Pearls of Wisdom
- Courage
There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.
Voltaire1694–1778Letter to François-Joachim de Pierre, cardinal de Bernis (23 April 1764)
Belief is nearly the whole of the Universe, whether based on truth or not.
Kurt Vonnegut1922–2007Bluebeard (1987), p. 144
- Faith
Anything but history, for history must be false.
Robert Walpole1676–1745Remark to his son, who offered to read history to him; in Walpoliana (1799), vol. 1, p. 60
- History
There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.
George Washington1732–1799
I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy.
George Washington1732–1799George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)
- Politics
There is nothing so powerful as truth, and often nothing so strange.
Daniel Webster1782–1852Argument on the murder of Captain Joseph White (1830)