Truth
‹ 6 · Outline · 8 ›
7.Truthfulness as a virtue and lying as a vice
7a.The obligation to speak as one thinks
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 34–35Telemachus demands the plain truth rather than soft words of pity.read · scan
- p. 53–54Telemachus demands plain truth, not soft words of pity, about his father's fate.read · scan
- p. 54–55Menelaus promises to hide nothing and not deceive, reporting what the truthful sea-elder declared.read · scan
- p. 96–97Odysseus affirms he has told all the truth in his distress.read · scan
- p. 228Telemachus says he loves to speak the truth.read · scan
- p. 230–231Telemachus and Menelaus each vow to tell the whole truth, hiding nothing.read · scan
- p. 241–242Penelope will clothe the stranger if he speaks nothing but truth.read · scan
- p. 242–243Reward of clothing is promised if the stranger speaks nothing but truth to Penelope.read · scan
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 9Without truthfulness man cannot live, as a cart lacks its crosspole.read · scan
- p. 23Truth and faithfulness are among the four things taught.read · scan
- p. 25The dying man's words are true.read · scan
- p. 29Confucius advises making faithfulness and truth one's masters, and distinguishes receiving a straight word from actually mending one's ways.read · scan
- p. 39Faithfulness and truth are to guide the mind; Tzu-lu keeps promises.read · scan
- p. 51Faithful, true words and plain conduct let a man get on anywhere.read · scan
Aeschylus, AgamemnonVol. 8
- p. 30Herald reluctant to flatter with falsehood; truth and joy are divorced in news of Menelaus.read · scan
Aeschylus, Prometheus BoundVol. 8
- p. 188–189Prometheus promises to speak plainly, as friends should, without dark riddles.read · scan
- p. 191–192Io begs Prometheus not to soothe her with false words; hollow words are the worst of ills.read · scan
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 112Job's lips will speak no unrighteousness or deceit.read · scan
Sophocles, AntigoneVol. 8
- p. 294Messenger refuses to smooth over the tale, since liars are soon found out: truth is best and wisest.read · scan
Buddhist WritingsVol. 45
- p. 591–593Sumedha reasons that Buddhas never lie; their word is as sure as sunrise and death, so he will become a Buddha.read · scan
- p. 596–598Seventh perfection: never be of double speech, swerving from truth like the steady morning star.read · scan
- p. 744–745The candidate is told to speak the truth, saying what is true and denying what is not, concealing nothing.read · scan
- p. 745The candidate is bidden to say truthfully what is and is not.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters of CiceroVol. 9
- p. 101Requests yielding to affection a little more than truth justifies.read · scan
- p. 153Cato conceded to friendship what he transparently conceded to truth.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 519–520Renounces craftiness and deceit, commending himself to conscience by manifestation of truth.read · scan
- p. 523Paul's boasts to Titus proved true, as all he said to them was truth.read · scan
- p. 531He defends his honesty against charges of craftiness and taking advantage.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 479–481Paul answers the charge of madness, saying he speaks words of truth and soberness.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 158–159He must return with a true report, undisturbed by things of sense.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 195He thought as he spoke and was free from falsehood.read · scan
- p. 217–218Words should never lie.read · scan
- p. 291It is absurd not to speak from one's real thoughts.read · scan
- p. 294Speak the truth freely and without disguise.read · scan
- p. 297If it is not true, do not say it.read · scan
- p. 300Speak the truth with all one's soul.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 77She refuses to speak falsely against him, saying God forbids it.read · scan
- p. 333–335Jullanar reassures him that her brother would not risk the child.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 386–387She insists she has told only truthread · scan
- p. 387–390She tells her true tale of a loveless life of liesread · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 81Virgil insists his account of Mantua's origin is true and warns that falsehood should not beguile Dante.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 261–262Walking in truth and simplicity of heart brings safety and true freedom from evil affections.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 165Raphael refuses to speak falsehoods or join in madness; the truth he would speak is not strange or newfangled.read · scan
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 286Luther insists he speaks only of notorious public matters and blames the doctors for silence.read · scan
- p. 317–318Plain confession of truth without self-justification is needed to reconcile with the Bohemians.read · scan
William Roper, The Life of Sir Thomas MoreVol. 36
- p. 91–103More tells the King that royal servants are unfit counsellors, whereas the ancient doctors will not deceive from self-interest or fear.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 312–314He confesses his wrongs so the world will believe him about the episodes in which he acted rightly.read · scan
- p. 346The majordomo accuses Cellini of untruth, which stings him to the quick.read · scan
- p. 370Cellini says his criticisms carried conviction because he was telling the truth, unmasking his rival before the Duke.read · scan
- p. 387–388Cellini tells the Duchess the pearls are gravely flawed, feeling duty to speak truth from professional experience.read · scan
- p. 389–390Pressed by the Duke on his honour, Cellini tearfully tells the truth about the pearls, fearing the Duchess's enmity.read · scan
John Knox, Preface to the History of the Reformation in ScotlandVol. 39
- p. 59Pledges to speak simple truth without partiality or invented lies, seeking neither reward nor vainglory.read · scan
Ambroise Paré, Journeys in Diverse PlacesVol. 38
- p. 58Paré says he published his Apologia so all may know how he has acted, and that he told only the truth, guaranteed by facts.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, That We Should Not Judge of Our Happiness Until After Our DeathVol. 32
- p. 6–7At death true speech comes from the heart and dissembling ends.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, Of the Institution and Education of ChildrenVol. 32
- p. 59–61Simple in-bred truth outshines garish painting of speech.read · scan
- p. 62–64Speech that serves truth must be plain and unpolished.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 217–218Chivalry's statutes forbid untruth, and doing one thing for another is a lie, so Don Quixote's head-knocks must be real.read · scan
- p. 262She fears being forced into untruths to cover her sorrow, and Fernando's faith is discredited.read · scan
- p. 287–288Don Quixote demands Sancho report on Dulcinea without addition, lying or flattery; Sancho admits he carried no letter.read · scan
- p. 407Zoraida accuses Christians of lying about poverty to cheat Moors of ransom; the narrator vows he uses truth with all persons.read · scan
- p. 483Sancho demands that Quixote answer truthfully as a knight, and Quixote promises not to lie.read · scan
Sir Walter Raleigh, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 203–204The soul is bidden to speak truth and give the world the lie.read · scan
Francis Bacon, The New AtlantisVol. 3
- p. 178–179The fellows hate impostures and lies, forbidding any natural work shown adorned or strange.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 109To thine own self be true, and you cannot be false to any man.read · scan
- p. 132–134Hamlet demands they deal justly and directly, exposing their concealed confession.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 216Cordelia refuses flattery and speaks plainly and truly; Lear punishes her truthfulness, 'thy truth be thy dower'.read · scan
- p. 221Cordelia defends lacking the glib, oily art of flattery; her honesty costs her her father's favor.read · scan
- p. 247Kent defends plain speech and refuses to flatter; Cornwall says plain-speaking knaves hide more craft than servile flatterers.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 373Malcolm confesses his first false speaking was the slander of himself, delighting no less in truth than life.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 419Gonzalo says Sebastian's truth lacks gentleness and timing.read · scan
John Winthrop, Arbitrary Government Described and the Government of the Massachusetts Vindicated from That AspersionVol. 43
- p. 105Stands or falls with what is of God and truth and his sincere intentions.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 201–202Pernelle says he tells home truths.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 69–71Cleopatra says her nature lacks falsehood and cannot show love where it is not; accuses Romans of flattery.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 122–123Truth and charity sometimes require rectifying others' mistakes.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 376Speaking as one thinks preserved a courtier's conscience; honesty is wise, neither flattering nor dissembling.read · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 65–67Flattering titles and 'humble servant' formulas condemned as shameless lies.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 56Truthfulness in dealings between men is judged of utmost importance.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Preface to ShakespeareVol. 39
- p. 217Candour must not be set above truth when judging a dead poet.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, A Discourse upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality among MankindVol. 34
- p. 166–167Promises truth without falsehood from nature's book, save unintended conceits.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 304–305Urges speaking only what is true and being sincere with oneself.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 237Conduct is the only language that rarely lies; professing a belief one does not act on cannot persuade.read · scan
- p. 242Speaking honest truth requires contempt of the opinions of those whose actions we abhor.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 300–301Just says he cannot play the hypocrite even for good liquor and tells the landlord the truth.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 153–155Moses protests he always speaks the truth; Charles ironically approves plain dealing in business.read · scan
Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, The Federalist, Nos. I and IIVol. 43
- p. 202Pledges to persuade only by evidence of truth and open arguments, not by concealed motives.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 54–56He scorned to lie when suspected of the deed.read · scan
- p. 210–211Will not lie or flatter in a dedicationread · scan
- p. 228–230He scorns to lie and makes open, fair confession.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 447–448Gessler demands a frank confession of the second arrow's purpose, promising Tell his life.read · scan
William Ellery Channing, On the Elevation of the Laboring ClassesVol. 28
- p. 311–312He will speak plainly and not flatter the laboring classes, as a friend rather than a vote-seeking politician.read · scan
- p. 312–313Truth should be spoken of all classes with sympathy and awareness of one's own fallibility.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 331Beatrice advises that guilt written on the face is the only witness, counseling faithfulness to oneself.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Inaugural Address at EdinburghVol. 25
- p. 360He promises to say nothing that is not true, speaking directly from the heart.read · scan
- p. 377A fine speaker is worthless if he is not speaking the truth.read · scan
- p. 378What matters is the thing spoken and its truth, not how well the man says it.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Sir Walter ScottVol. 25
- p. 422Demands that a speaker have real gospel-tidings to utter and praises Scott's honesty and good faith in being what he was.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-RelianceVol. 5
- p. 62–63Emerson prizes genuineness of life over show; being needs no secondary testimony. Sincerity versus appearance, only faintly touching truthfulness.read · scan
- p. 74Resolves to speak the truth and drop lying hospitality and affection; all men's interest is to live in truth.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, FriendshipVol. 5
- p. 110Truth or sincerity is the first element of friendship; with a friend one may drop dissimulation, while a second person brings hypocrisy.read · scan
- p. 110A man's religious sincerity, speaking to each conscience, forces true relations; society shows only its back.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, HeroismVol. 5
- p. 124–125The hero speaks the truth and is just.read · scan
- p. 129–130Speak the truth even with austerity.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Over-SoulVol. 5
- p. 145Dealing man to man in naked truth and plain confession is what matters in such company.read · scan
- p. 145–146Sincerity is more excellent than flattery; plain dealing is the highest compliment.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, CharacterVol. 5
- p. 193The Yunani sage says Zoroaster's form and gait cannot lie and only truth proceeds from them.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, MannersVol. 5
- p. 201The gentleman is a man of truth, lord of his own actions, not servile to persons, opinions or possessions.read · scan
- p. 207–208The first point of courtesy must be truth; skulking and dissimulation cannot be dignified by rank or armies.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, WorshipVol. 5
- p. 286–287Sincerity is the property of all things; you cannot say anything but what you are, and character conveys itself despite concealment.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 354No artifice or breach of plain dealing is tolerated, not even secret ballot.read · scan
- p. 373–374English veracity and plain dealing are the national trait; a lie is the extreme insult, and word is as good as bond.read · scan
- p. 375English probity and honest dealing, uniting success with honesty, contrast with French vanity; Englishmen expect truth from one another.read · scan
- p. 376Englishmen surpass in saying rude truth even to kings, as Latimer did to Henry VIII, and honor stoutness in each other.read · scan
- p. 377–379Englishmen are open-hearted and blurt out secrets, unlike the subtle Italian or treacherous Spaniard; Defoe says English treasons never succeed.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 280The brother tells everything that had happened, and the truth vindicates her.read · scan
- p. 309–310The bird will tell the Emperor everything, including hidden things, as a secret informant beyond the court.read · scan
- p. 327–328The Learned Man refuses to join the deception of the country and Princess; the Shadow says no one will believe him.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 172–173He gives frank, unreserved explanations of his principles to electors.read · scan
- p. 173Mill's blunt avowal that working classes are liars wins their trust; straightforwardness is the chief recommendation to them.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1027–1030The ideal ruler is one who dare not lie in a blatant land.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 7The humorist is esteemed as he finds and speaks the truth, scorning untruth, pretension and imposture.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 373Mildred dreads dissembling before the household, wishing to pour forth their whole story rather than feign a maiden's brow.read · scan
- p. 381–382Tresham cannot practice guile to worm the truth out of Mildred and disguises his purpose clumsily.read · scan
Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of GrassVol. 39
- p. 402Candor and openness win the world; deceit never attracts, the soul cannot be fooled, and no being's instinct hated truth.read · scan
Arthur Hugh Clough, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1121–1122Be true to the guiding compass and yourselves.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Truth of IntercourseVol. 28
- p. 278Ideal speech fits the truth of fact like an athlete's skin.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Samuel PepysVol. 28
- p. 285Pepys outstripped competitors in the art or virtue of conscious honesty about oneself.read · scan
- p. 287Contrasts Pepys's dignified public letter with his diary's candid confession of buying a roguish book and being ashamed; puzzles over sincerity and pose.read · scan
- p. 290Pepys's unflinching sincerity about himself; we usually weave romantic compliments and excuses, while he set down the bald truth about oneself.read · scan
7b.The evil and consequences of lying
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 190Odysseus hates the man who lies under stress of poverty; swears an oath that Odysseus will return, while Eumaeus doubts and asks for true account.read · scan
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 28Confucius rebukes Yu's pretence of ministers as deceit, asking whether it can deceive Heaven.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 148God destroys those who speak lies; no faithfulness in the mouths of enemies.read · scan
- p. 217–218The mouth of liars will be stopped.read · scan
Plato, PhaedoVol. 2
- p. 110–111False words are evil in themselves and infect the soul with evil.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 431–432Ananias keeps back part of the price and lies to the Holy Spirit; Peter says he has lied to God, and he dies.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 203–204Acting or speaking insincerely and untruly harms the soul.read · scan
- p. 264Lying is impiety; universal nature is truth and the prime cause of all true things.read · scan
- p. 264Lying, intentional or not, opposes universal nature; neglecting one's powers loses the ability to tell falsehood from truth.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 20He deceived tutors, masters and parents with lies.read · scan
- p. 71Augustine confesses he lied to his mother to escape.read · scan
- p. 85The panegyric involves lying to please rather than instruct; he admits his preference for himself rested on wrong judgment.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 97The friar recalls the Devil is a liar and the father of lies, embarrassing Virgil.read · scan
- p. 123Falsifiers of persons, coin and speech are punished as deceivers.read · scan
- p. 123–125Sinon and the false accuser of Joseph are named as liars punished with fever.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 224They abhor deceit and lies and will not force dissembling of belief.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, Of FriendshipVol. 32
- p. 85–86He was so conscientious that no lie ever passed his lips.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 296Sancho is weary of telling lies about Dulcinea, whom he never saw, and fears being trapped in his words.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 8–9Clear dealing is the honor of man's nature; falsehood is like alloy in gold, and the lie is cowardly toward men and brave toward God.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 370–373The son argues that liars and swearers outnumber and would hang honest men, and calls the murderer a liar.read · scan
Thomas Hobbes, Of Man, Being the First Part of LeviathanVol. 34
- p. 323–324Abuses of speech include deceiving oneself or others by wrong registering, metaphor, or declaring a false will.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 216–220Mariane protests being made to tell a lie about loving Tartuffe; Orgon will make it true.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 46–47Some people lie for the mere sake of lying, even without interest.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 87–88Faithful urges Talkative to say only what God and conscience can affirm; lying is wickedness.read · scan
- p. 318–319He insists none can truthfully say the work is theirs, and scorns lying in print for applause.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 376Habitual lying destroys credit; no one is believed who teaches all to distrust him.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 336–337Werner admits his lie about Frau Marloff's payment and calls lying low because one may be caught.read · scan
William Blake, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 587–588A truth told with bad intent beats all invented lies.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 95–96Tonio admits owing his wife countless lies and will invent a story; Lucia objects to the deceit involved.read · scan
- p. 96Lucia objects that the plan requires disguise, falsehood and deceit, which are unlike how their courtship began.read · scan
- p. 131Lucia's conscience reproaches her for dissimulating to the good friar; a night of embarrassment and concealment.read · scan
- p. 167–169Gertrude lies to the priest, more unscrupulous about speaking the truth after her first falsehood.read · scan
- p. 324–325Gertrude pressures Lucia to deceive the portress with a falsehood, and Lucia is troubled at lying.read · scan
George Long, The Philosophy of AntoninusVol. 2
- p. 342Truthfulness is a virtue; lying weakens the understanding and malicious lying is a great moral offence.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, An Address Delivered before the Senior Class in Divinity CollegeVol. 5
- p. 26–27Speaking the truth enlists all nature; the least lie vitiates the effect.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, PoliticsVol. 5
- p. 247Dominating another is a lie that hurts both, maintained only by force.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, WorshipVol. 5
- p. 283–284Cant and lying are balked and vain in a universe of moral law; no room for hypocrisy, sincerity of the universe.read · scan
- p. 285No secret can be hidden; character is revealed by concealment, and the universe protects itself by pitiless publicity.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 377Governments learn too late that dishonest agents ruin nations as they do individuals; London cringed to Louis Napoleon.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 232–233The Fuegian boy, a liar, rages at being called one.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 986Bedivere lies about what he saw, and Arthur rebukes it as a shameful thing for men to lie.read · scan
- p. 986Bedivere lies a second time, and Arthur angrily calls him untrue and traitor-hearted.read · scan
7c.Equivocation, mental reservation and the truth of spirit against letter
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 59Proclaiming each truth at the roadside lays waste the soul.read · scan
Plutarch, CiceroVol. 12
- p. 237–238Cicero admits his orations darken a case and praise a bad subject, undermining truthfulness.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 67–69A truth that has the semblance of falsehood should be withheld if possible, since the speaker incurs reproach though blameless.read · scan
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 284–285The Pope's 'mental reservation' lets him lie and cheat, claiming he reserved authority in his heart.read · scan
- p. 291Denounces the Pope's lying mental reservation by which Christendom is cheated for wealth.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 18Dissimulation follows secrecy by necessity; equivocation and feigning shade into concealing the truth.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 343–344The equivocator who swore both ways and committed treason yet could not equivocate to heaven.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 277–280Orgon was led by Tartuffe's sophistry to deny holding the box, keeping conscience clear while swearing against the truth.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 336–337Speak the truth when obliged; equivocation is half way to lying, lying whole way to hell; zeal follows appearance of truth.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 375–376Giving a false reason deceives and is an immorality; silence is better than saying what one does not mean.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 109–110Equivocation and disguised compliance satirized as verbal evasions.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 360–362Hermann admits his patriotic speech was half dissimulation, meant to conceal his real emotions.read · scan
Friedrich von Schiller, Letters upon the Aesthetic Education of ManVol. 32
- p. 287Critics' strict sense of truth wrongly condemns politeness and agreeable form as falsity.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 28–29He evasively pretends over-kindness and unfinished researches, hiding the real reason for delay.read · scan
- p. 29Renzo perceives the curate's evasions and hints as concealing some mystery different from his stated excuse.read · scan
- p. 229Renzo guardedly conceals his affairs and origins, speaking carefully so as not to publish them to the world.read · scan
- p. 246–248Innkeeper protests that he tells the truth while carefully withholding what he knows; the notary accuses him of not telling all.read · scan
- p. 263–264Renzo evades the question with a technically true but misleading reply, claiming to come from Liscate.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 320Lucretia admits her vision was a feint; Cenci condemns her as a palterer with the sacred truth of God.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Truth of IntercourseVol. 28
- p. 277Telling truth is hard, not easy; truth in human relations is intangible, and veracity to sentiment matters more than literal fact.read · scan
- p. 281Avoiding open lies is not telling truth; yea and nay answers mean nothing, and conveying even a simple statement takes many words.read · scan
- p. 282True veracity conveys a true impression, truth in spirit not letter; a lie may be told by a truth or in silence.read · scan
- p. 282Thoreau: it takes two to speak truth; anger or suspicion distorts hearing, and truth needs moral equality and respect.read · scan
- p. 283–284Once doubt of honesty arises, past confidence becomes a charge against the person doubted.read · scan
7d.The defence of deceit: policy, necessity and noble lies
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 222–223Telemachus is told to give a false pretext, that smoke marred the arms and drunken quarrels might arise.read · scan
Aeschylus, The Libation-BearersVol. 8
- p. 107–109Chorus bids the nurse tell a twisted tale, using deceit to draw Aegisthus unguarded.read · scan
Plutarch, ThemistoclesVol. 12
- p. 19Themistocles sends a false message pretending concern for the king to deceive him.read · scan
- p. 20–22Themistocles deceives the Spartans about rebuilding Athens' walls, using delay and hostages.read · scan
Plutarch, Comparison of Alcibiades with CoriolanusVol. 12
- p. 186Both used falsehood and deceit; Alcibiades tricked the Spartan ambassadors and Coriolanus spread a false report.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 213–215Ja'far invents a story of a circumcision feast to excuse Ibrahim before the Khalifeh.read · scan
Niccolò Machiavelli, The PrinceVol. 36
- p. 25Dissembling designs deceives the Orsini.read · scan
- p. 58Princes must simulate and dissemble; deceivers always find dupes, as Alexander VI's successful frauds show.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 220He tells the water-carrier a false love-adventure story to secure help.read · scan
- p. 353He speaks the truth about the stone, then flatters the Duke's false opinion with a higher guess when the Duke takes it ill.read · scan
- p. 388–389Cellini, friend of truth, is pressed by the Duchess to lie and praise pearls; necessity makes him tell fibs to the Duke.read · scan
Ambroise Paré, Journeys in Diverse PlacesVol. 38
- p. 27–28The letters deliberately state falsehoods about the town's condition as a ruse.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 216Sancho suggests feigning the penance blows and exaggerating them to the lady, since it is all a jest.read · scan
- p. 234–235They coach Sancho to lie that Dulcinea answered orally, deceiving Don Quixote to lure him from his penance.read · scan
- p. 344Camilla and Leonela debate whether to lie or tell the naked truth; neither claims skill at lying, Leonela says she cannot lie even in jest.read · scan
Sir Walter Raleigh, The Discovery of GuianaVol. 33
- p. 313He deliberately deceives the Spaniards about his purpose to learn their knowledge.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 17–18Dissimulation is a faint kind of policy; the ablest men have frankness and a name for veracity, using concealment only when needed.read · scan
- p. 19Simulation and false profession judged more culpable than secrecy; a general habit of it is a vice, though lying can sometimes discover truth.read · scan
- p. 57–58Cunning tactics rely on deceiving and distracting others, such as amusing a party so he won't object.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 118–120Polonius says a bait of falsehood takes a carp of truth; by indirections find directions out.read · scan
- p. 120–123Polonius defends deceit: bait of falsehood catches truth, by indirections find directions out.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 332–334She counsels Macbeth to hide intent with a false welcoming face.read · scan
- p. 336–339Deception planned: mock the time with fairest show.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 697–699Dion resolves to swear he saw what he only reports, to move Philaster; deliberate lying for a cause.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 799The Duchess stages a feigned crime, a 'noble lie' as Tasso calls it, to shield their honours.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 903–905Lovell and Margaret dissemble to delude the scheming father.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 104It may be expedient that men be deceived, ignorant of the truth that would free them.read · scan
John Dryden, Dedication of the AeneisVol. 13
- p. 32–34Poet's license to lie for country compared to Wotton's definition of an ambassador.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 374Secrecy differs from false lights; the honest man who is free rather than open is preferred to the dark, disguised man.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 262–263The Regent says statesmen's policy rarely keeps truth, candour or toleration in secular affairs.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 45Doctor demands total frankness from the client, though he himself makes matters intricate and proposes to frame someone.read · scan
- p. 48–49Agnese, at Lucia's hint, lies that the curate is ill to conceal the reason for the postponed wedding.read · scan
- p. 128–129The constable is warned not to tell the truth if questioned, suppressing testimony.read · scan
Thomas Babington Macaulay, MachiavelliVol. 27
- p. 379–380Deceit and falsehood are habitual to the Italian statesman, who sees no scruple in deceiving those he would destroy.read · scan
- p. 381Indifferent to truth in life's transactions, yet honestly devoted to truth in speculation.read · scan
Frank Aretas Haskell, The Battle of GettysburgVol. 43
- p. 404Men falsely report generals dead, knowing it is false; he himself lies to the skulkers.read · scan
7e.Lying as contrary to the universal law of promising
Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of MoralsVol. 32
- p. 313A lying promise cannot be willed as a universal law, since it would destroy promising itself.read · scan
- p. 328–330Deceitful promising example: is lying evil in itself or only imprudent because credit would be lost?read · scan
- p. 340–341A lying promise uses another merely as means, since he cannot assent to being so treated.read · scan
7f.Truthfulness in the education of children
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 29–30Children are encouraged to lie when it profits master or parents, so they will lie for themselves.read · scan
- p. 105–106Children must never be given deceitful or evasive answers; playing false with them corrupts innocence and teaches falsehood.read · scan
- p. 106Better to say plainly a matter is not theirs to know than to put them off with a falsehood.read · scan
- p. 114Lying is a mean, shameful quality and mother of ill ones; a child must be brought up to abhor it.read · scan
- p. 114–115Excuses border on untruth; a child who confesses should be commended and pardoned, while persisting in falsehood is chastised.read · scan
- p. 118Child must be kept exactly to speaking truth; twenty faults are more forgivable than straining truth to excuse one.read · scan
- p. 119Cunning is mixed with falsehood; children should be accustomed to truth and sincerity.read · scan
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