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Quotes about truth and lies

458 quotes from 240 people

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It is so difficult⁠—at least, I find it difficult⁠—to understand people who speak the truth.
E. M. Forster1879–1970A Room with a View (1908), Part One, Chapter IIn context
It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment.
Arthur Conan Doyle1859–1930A Study in Scarlet (1887), Part I, Chapter IIIIn context
- Facts
- Thinking
When a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions, it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation.
Arthur Conan Doyle1859–1930A Study in Scarlet (1887), Part I, Chapter VIIIn context
- Facts
- Thinking
What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence,” returned my companion, bitterly. “The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done.
Arthur Conan Doyle1859–1930A Study in Scarlet (1887), Part II: The Country of the Saints, Chapter VIIIn context
- Fame
How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?
Arthur Conan Doyle1859–1930The Sign of the Four (1890), Chapter VIIn context
- Thinking
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.
Arthur Conan Doyle1859–1930The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1891–1892), A Scandal in BohemiaIn context
- Facts
- Thinking
There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact
Arthur Conan Doyle1859–1930The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1891–1892), The Boscombe Valley MysteryIn context
- Facts
An animal may be ferocious and cunning enough, but it takes a real man to tell a lie.
H. G. Wells1866–1946The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), Chapter XXIIn context
- Animals
If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.
John Stuart Mill1806–1873On Liberty (1859), Chapter II (1 of 2)In context
- Debate
However unwillingly a person who has a strong opinion may admit the possibility that his opinion may be false, he ought to be moved by the consideration that however true it may be, if it is not fully, frequently, and fearlessly discussed, it will be held as a dead dogma, not a living truth.
John Stuart Mill1806–1873On Liberty (1859), Chapter II (1 of 2)In context
- Debate
Lies, my boy, are known in a moment. There are two kinds of lies, lies with short legs and lies with long noses. Yours, just now, happen to have long noses.
Carlo Collodi1826–1890The Adventures of Pinocchio (1881–1883), Chapter 17In context
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.
LLaozi580–501 BCTao Te Ching (4th century BC), Part II, Chapter 81In context
“Faith, sir,” replied the story-teller, “as to that matter, I don’t believe one half of it myself.”
Washington Irving1783–1859The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820)In context
- Comedy
’Tis strange,⁠—but true; for truth is always strange;
Stranger than fiction; if it could be told,
How much would novels gain by the exchange!
Lord Byron1788–1824Don Juan (1819–1824), Canto the FourteenthIn context
The public scandal is what brings offence,
And secret sinning is not sin at all.
Molière1622–1673Tartuffe (1664–1669), Act IV, Scene V, spoken by TartuffeIn context
- Morality