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Quotes about truth and lies

458 quotes from 240 people

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Politeness, n. The most acceptable hypocrisy.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
- Comedy
Diplomacy, n. The patriotic art of lying for one’s country.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
- Politics
As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.
Josh Billings1818–1885Affurisms. From Josh Billings: His Sayings (1865)
When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.
Otto von Bismarck1815–1898(born 1 April 1815), as quoted in American Speaker: Your Guide to Successful Speaking (1992) by Aram Bakshian.
A man never lies as much as after a hunt, during a war, and before an election.
Otto von Bismarck1815–1898
Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believed.
William Blake1757–1827Proverbs of Hell, Line 69
A truth that’s told with bad intent
Beats all the lies you can invent.
William Blake1757–1827Auguries of Innocence (1803), Line 53In context
I’d rather hear an old truth than a new lie.
CBChris Bowyer
Lies are usually caused by an undue fear of men.
NBNachman of Bratslav
He said true things, but called them by the wrong names.
Robert Browning1812–1889Men and Women (1855), “Bishop Blougram’s Apology”, line 996.
It is the glory and good of Art
That Art remains the one way possible
Of speaking truth,⁠—to mouths like mine, at least.
Robert Browning1812–1889The Ring and the Book (1868-69)
- Art
Truth makes on the ocean of nature no one track of light⁠—every eye looking on finds its own.
Edward Bulwer-Lytton1803–1873Caxtoniana (1862)
Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm; it is the real allegory of the tale of Orpheus⁠—it moves stones, it charms brutes. Enthusiasm is the genius of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without it.
Edward Bulwer-Lytton1803–1873The Last Days of Pompeii (1834), Book I, Chapter VIII
- Inspiration
Hypocrisy, of course, delights in the most sublime speculations; for, never intending to go beyond speculation, it costs nothing to have it magnificent.
Edmund Burke1729–1797Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
Some books are lies frae end to end.
Robert Burns1759–1796Death and Dr. Hornbook, st. 1 (1787)
- Reading