Truth
‹ 8 · Outline · 10 ›
9.Deception and imposture in life and story
9a.Hypocrisy, flattery and false appearance
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 226Eurymachus falsely comforts Penelope while plotting her son's death.read · scan
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 14Flattery is a false speech used to deceive.read · scan
- p. 33The man who blows hot and cold with the same breath is rejected as double-dealing and inconsistent.read · scan
- p. 43Appearance is preferred to reality when the audience hisses the genuine pig.read · scan
Aeschylus, AgamemnonVol. 8
- p. 29–30Her protestation of fidelity is ironic, and the herald qualifies it with 'when truth informs the boast'.read · scan
- p. 36Men in ill fortune heed the semblance of truth; feigned tears and smiles cannot deceive the wise shepherd.read · scan
- p. 38–39Her speech of devotion is deceptive, dramatic irony.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, On FriendshipVol. 9
- p. 39–40False pretence clouds our discernment of truth; flatterers speak only to please without regard to truth.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 527–528Contrasts true apostleship with deceitful workers who falsely fashion themselves as apostles of Christ.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 386Hypocrisy is warned against; hidden things will be revealed.read · scan
- p. 406Spies feign righteousness and flatter Jesus to trap him; he perceives their craftiness.read · scan
Plutarch, PericlesVol. 12
- p. 42–43Thucydides jokes that Pericles persuades bystanders against their own eyes, making a fair fall seem no fall.read · scan
Plutarch, AristidesVol. 12
- p. 88–89Spartan ephors deceive Aristides by pretended festivity while secretly marching out; he rebukes their deception.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 352Parthian flattery and false friendliness are a deliberate deceit, and Antony tests whether the king authorized it.read · scan
- p. 356–358Parthian professions of humanity are deceptive, and a friendly informant reveals the ambush.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 145–146Reproaches pretenders who assume names and roles they cannot justify.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 288Announcing one's fairness is insincere; honesty shows plainly in acts and eyes.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 343The sorcerer's grief is a performed deception.read · scan
- p. 346–347The generosity is part of the sorcerer's deception.read · scan
- p. 412–413Her feigned affection is a deceit, a snare disguised as sincerity, which the Moor fails to detect.read · scan
- p. 420The magician in disguise uses flattery and a false suggestion to lead the Princess into demanding the egg.read · scan
- p. 438The assassin hides his purpose behind courtesy and a false excuse, while Ali Baba trusts him as an honest man.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 350–351Gudrun deceives Atli with soft speech while planning vengeance.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 73Flattery is false speech, telling others what pleases rather than what is true.read · scan
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales; The Nun's Priest's TaleVol. 40
- p. 46Courtiers who flatter please lords more than the man who speaks soothfastness.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 303Beggars counterfeit diseases, dress and lost ships to deceive givers.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 331–332Anselmo, deceived, is entangled by praise while being dishonoured; poets say not truth.read · scan
- p. 499–500Vincent's tales of invisible wounds, endless victories and finery are deceptive vanity, boasting exposed as show.read · scan
Sir Walter Raleigh, Preface to the History of the WorldVol. 39
- p. 67–68No one can long wear a counterfeit character; the heart shows at the tongue's end.read · scan
William Shakespeare, Songs and SonnetsVol. 40
- p. 279–280Confesses having looked on truth askance, yet returns to the truest love.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 75Isabella and Mortimer dissemble grief, feigning friendliness to Kent while plotting.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 138–143Guildenstern says Hamlet with crafty madness keeps aloof from confessing his true state.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 216Cordelia contrasts sincere silent love with the sisters' hyperbolic professions.read · scan
- p. 216–220Kent contrasts Cordelia's just words with the sisters' large speeches, hoping their deeds prove them.read · scan
- p. 228–229Edmund lies, feigning friendship while planning harm; Edgar's foolish honesty lets his practices ride easy.read · scan
- p. 247Kent claims plainness of speech; Cornwall suspects affected bluntness.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 327–330Duncan notes there is no art to find the mind's construction in the face; his trust in Cawdor was betrayed.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 514–515Lincoln aside notes how far the mayor's tongue wanders from his heart, showing dissembling.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 671Dion observes men's hearts and faces are far asunder, so actions cannot be read.read · scan
- p. 704Philaster suspects dissembling in women and letters, testing Bellario's honest looks.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 809Brothers' fair letters are false hearts speaking fair to hide mischief.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 916–919Lady Allworth warns dissimulation ties false knots; both swear their ends are good.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 136Satan's hypocrisy deceives even Uriel; only God can discern hypocrisy, the one invisible evil.read · scan
- p. 155Satan is first practiser of falsehood under saintly show, masking his passions with outward calm.read · scan
- p. 155Satan pities them yet hypocritically offers league and false friendship.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 371Jesus distrusts the Tempter's offers as deceptive, specious giftsread · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 213–214Sincerity versus artifice, semblance versus reality, counterfeit versus honest coin.read · scan
- p. 214–216There is a difference between false and true; false pretences deceive Orgon.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 156Making oneself loved deceives others, like causing a falsehood to be believed even by gentle persuasion.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 80–81Appearance versus reality: Talkative seems pretty but is a sorry fellow.read · scan
- p. 135–136Flatterer is a false apostle transformed into an angel of light; fine-spoken deceivers spread a netread · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 81–84Antony condemns hypocrisy of Dolabella who won't swear he does not love her.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 46–47Affectation is counterfeit, showing disagreement between outward action and inward mind, wanting sincerity.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 375He hides his sentiments and pays in false or clipped coin.read · scan
- p. 395–396Cynical suspicion supposes no sincerity among mankind, a trick instead of truth.read · scan
Henry Fielding, Preface to Joseph AndrewsVol. 39
- p. 180Vain affectation is nearer to truth than hypocritical, which is nearly allied to deceit.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 220Officers respect sincerity but are troubled by those professing peace whose conduct contradicts it.read · scan
- p. 221Insincere men pretending scruples to escape danger are distinguished from those with real tender scruples.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 146–147Says the club's vote rests on authority not argument, and its anonymous signature is nearly a fraud.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 118–119Deceit and betrayal among the schemers; Snake said to lack virtue even to be faithful to villainy.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 104–106Prefers honest atheism to hiding under gospel colours; religion talks of mercy, grace and truth only for malice.read · scan
Friedrich von Schiller, Letters upon the Aesthetic Education of ManVol. 32
- p. 235–236Appearance determining value displaces truth and reality in social relations.read · scan
Sydney Smith, Fallacies of Anti-ReformersVol. 27
- p. 225Fallacies pass for sense and virtue while fortifying error and encouraging crime.read · scan
- p. 245–246The fallacy is insincere: professed approval of reform covers real opposition.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 64The travelers win lodging by pleasant speeches and promises, then cheat the hostread · scan
- p. 80Appearances deceive: the kindly old woman and sweet house hide a trap.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 337The world judges by what seems, and masks conceal what is within.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-RelianceVol. 5
- p. 64Conformists' every truth is not quite true; even their arithmetic is false.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, MannersVol. 5
- p. 205–207The first thing man requires of man is reality; the gentleman looks straight, and hospitality seeks the man, not the trappings.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, PoliticsVol. 5
- p. 248–249Nobody would be a charlatan who could afford to be sincere.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 391–392The truth-speaking Briton descends from an impostor, and America bears a thief's name.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 235–236Officials see nothing yet lie and praise the cloth, unwilling to admit the truth.read · scan
- p. 236–237The Emperor sees nothing yet says aloud it is pretty, choosing falsehood over admitting it.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1022–1024He fears deceit: a feigned face of tenderness and brazen lies used to entrap him.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 388Guendolen deduces the truth that Mertoun and the lover are the same; she muses on the world's seemings and realities.read · scan
- p. 392Tresham cannot understand how Mertoun can live so and lie.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Samuel PepysVol. 28
- p. 300–301Pepys has no idea of truth except in the Diary; prefers appearance to being.read · scan
9b.Deceivers and impostors exposed
See also: Hypocrisy 4b · Friendship 7a
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 121–122Odysseus lies about his shipwreck to deceive the Cyclops, who is testing him.read · scan
- p. 180Odysseus, crafty, withholds truth and tells a feigned tale of exile after murder to the disguised goddess.read · scan
- p. 181Both are practised in deceits; guile is loved by Odysseus from the heart.read · scan
- p. 327Odysseus tells a false tale of his name and origin.read · scan
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 19–20Pretense and cheating are exposed.read · scan
- p. 27The wolf deceives the sheep by disguise, showing falsehood and appearance used to prey on the trusting.read · scan
- p. 30Disguise as lion deceives all until the ass brays; foolish speech reveals a fool.read · scan
- p. 34A deceiver is out-tricked by the cock and betrays himself by fear.read · scan
Aeschylus, The Libation-BearersVol. 8
- p. 103–104Orestes deceives Clytemnestra with a feigned tale of his own death.read · scan
- p. 105–106Orestes's false news is delivered under guise of honest messenger.read · scan
Herodotus, An Account of EgyptVol. 33
- p. 54–56Alexander is convicted of falsehood by the suppliants when his account goes astray.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 100Sinon feigns sincerity, claiming Fortune cannot make him lie, while deceiving the Trojans.read · scan
- p. 100Sinon's fabricated tale with acted fear deceives the Trojans.read · scan
- p. 100False tears and fawning words accomplish what a ten-year siege could not.read · scan
- p. 366Camilla exposes Aunus's deceit, denouncing Ligurian tricks and vaunting lies.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 432Sapphira repeats the false price, conspiring with her husband to deceive.read · scan
Plutarch, ThemistoclesVol. 12
- p. 15–16Deception of Xerxes by a false message of friendship.read · scan
Plutarch, AlcibiadesVol. 12
- p. 117–118Alcibiades deceives the Spartan ambassadors, then denounces them as liars before the assembly, exploiting a false pretense.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 385Cleopatra deceives Caesar with a partial treasure list and feigned wish to live; he thinks he has overreached her but is deceived.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 922–923Brothers deceive their father, claiming a wolf devoured Joseph while protesting they are truth-tellers.read · scan
- p. 927–928Joseph's planted cup and the crier's accusation of theft stage a deception before the brothers protest their innocence.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 47The king pretends to drink the drugged wine to uncover her deceit.read · scan
- p. 51–52The king deceives her by disguising his voice as the slave's.read · scan
- p. 52–53The king deceives the enchantress, believing him the slave, to undo her spell.read · scan
- p. 75–76The lady lies, claiming she fell against the talisman, and the 'Efrit calls her a liar.read · scan
- p. 115The couple deceive onlookers, pretending the dead man is their sick son.read · scan
- p. 159The youth deceives the barber to get rid of him, while the barber suspects he is being deceived.read · scan
- p. 171The feigned blindness and the hidden intruder show deception and concealment among the companions.read · scan
- p. 220The Khalifeh uses a false identity and deception to learn the truth of the affair.read · scan
- p. 270–271He lies to the sailors, claiming to be a shipwrecked merchant.read · scan
- p. 341The Moor's tears and claims are a deception to win the boy.read · scan
- p. 341The stranger's false claim of kinship contrasts with the mother's knowledge.read · scan
- p. 343His whole tale is a pretext to deceive.read · scan
- p. 347–348The Moor entertains the boy to lead him unsuspecting toward his hidden purpose.read · scan
- p. 348–350The Moor falsely claims kinship and benevolence, justifying his blow as being for the boy's good while concealing his real purpose.read · scan
- p. 351The false uncle deceives the boy with affectionate lies.read · scan
- p. 352–354The sorcerer, an impostor who falsely called himself an uncle, seals the boy underground when he cannot obtain the Lamp.read · scan
- p. 355He discovers the Moor is no uncle but a lying magician.read · scan
- p. 356The boy denounces the Moor as liar, impostor and hypocrite whose promises and feigned love concealed ambition.read · scan
- p. 356He recounts how the false uncle deceived him and tried to bury him.read · scan
- p. 419–420The disguise as Fatimeh deceives everyone into believing him a saint.read · scan
- p. 429–430Marjaneh lies to the apothecary and gives out false reports of Kasim's illness.read · scan
- p. 431–432The robber feigns amazement and disinterest to draw out the cobbler's secret.read · scan
The Song of RolandVol. 49
- p. 107–108Ganelon deceives by first delivering Karl's message, twisting words with cunning.read · scan
- p. 116–117Ganelon's treacherous tale of Marsil's submission is a lie that deceives the Emperor, contrasting with his oath.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 257Sigi falsely claims Bredi rode away; Skadi distrusts the tale and finds the body.read · scan
- p. 280–281Hjordis's deception with the bondmaid is tested by the king and queen.read · scan
- p. 281–282Hjordis tells the whole truth about herself after the king's test exposes her.read · scan
- p. 316–317Sigurd deceives Brynhild by posing as Gunnar, and she yields on his claim to her oath.read · scan
- p. 341–342Vingi falsifies Gudrun's runes and lies; Hogni suspects deceit from the wolf's hair.read · scan
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales; The Nun's Priest's TaleVol. 40
- p. 46The fox feigns friendship and honesty, professing no harm while deceiving the cock.read · scan
- p. 48The fox pledges to speak truth after his deceit; the cock refuses to trust him.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 110–112The raiders answer the questioning Sakelde with disguises and false pretexts.read · scan
- p. 150–152Little John deceives the sheriff with a tale of a green hart, luring him to Robin.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 143The fiend calls the holy man an enchanter and multiplier of words, falsely urging disbelief.read · scan
Niccolò Machiavelli, The PrinceVol. 36
- p. 64–65Severus deceived Albinus with false offers of shared rule, then punished his supposed ingratitude.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 173Giorgio denies the accusation and lies when confronted.read · scan
- p. 190–191The courier Busbacca, a rogue, weeps and wheedles with a false story to obtain money, and Cellini bargains cautiously.read · scan
- p. 192–194In the moment of peril Busbacca confesses his boast of jewels was a lie, the case being full of caviare.read · scan
- p. 352The broker Bernardone deceives his partner Landi and plans to palm off the stone on the Duke.read · scan
- p. 361Cellini's account is vindicated as truth while Bernardone's claim is a lie; the accusers flee to Venice.read · scan
- p. 423–424The old man reveals the priest's boasts of the scheme, on condition of secrecy; Cellini's suspicions grow.read · scan
Ambroise Paré, Journeys in Diverse PlacesVol. 38
- p. 39The impostor's boastful, false promise contrasts with the physicians' honest prognosis.read · scan
- p. 39–40The Spaniard's false promise exposed by Martigues's death, and he flees to escape hanging.read · scan
Sir Francis Drake, Sir Francis Drake RevivedVol. 33
- p. 146–147Deception: captain and carpenter feign ignorance of the sinking, concealing the truth from the company.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 257–258Fernando's false tears and sighs lend credit to lies that resemble truth.read · scan
- p. 320Lothario resolves to deceive Anselmo.read · scan
- p. 320–321Lothario deceives Anselmo about his progress, likening his craft to the devil's disguise.read · scan
- p. 322Lothario keeps lying to Anselmo, claiming Camilla resisted his words and gifts.read · scan
- p. 323Anselmo spies through a chink, discovers Lothario's fictions and accuses him of deceit.read · scan
- p. 329Lothario lies to Anselmo, claiming Camilla is incorruptible; Anselmo believes it like an oracle.read · scan
- p. 329–331Deception: Chloris is a feigned name, Anselmo is blinded, and Camilla is forewarned.read · scan
- p. 335Lothario lies about Camilla's yielding, mixing in truth about their talks in the wardrobe.read · scan
- p. 336–337Lothario at first suspects Camilla is lying but is persuaded by her weeping that she tells the truth.read · scan
- p. 341Lothario and Camilla make an untruth pass between them as manifest verity for the hidden Anselmo.read · scan
- p. 343The staged assault deceives Anselmo; Lothario himself is uncertain if her demonstrations are false or true, and he laments as if she were dead.read · scan
- p. 344–345Anselmo is contentedly deceived by the staged tragedy; the fiction seems the truth, until the hidden wickedness becomes known.read · scan
- p. 356The lady says her sincerity and truth caused her misfortunes and that his falseness is shown, against his charge that she lies.read · scan
- p. 361Fernando admits he cannot resist or deny so many united truths.read · scan
- p. 468The friends hasten departure lest Sancho discover the deceit.read · scan
- p. 482Sancho reveals that the veiled riders are the curate and barber, so Don Quixote is beguiled, not enchanted.read · scan
Sir Walter Raleigh, The Discovery of GuianaVol. 33
- p. 342The old pilot repeatedly says the town is near, and the men suspect him of treachery for the false distances.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 226–227Edmund's false pretence of reluctance and loyalty deceives Gloucester; deception disguised as brotherly concern.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 517–518Firk feigns betrayal and gulls the pursuers with false and half-true statements.read · scan
Ben Jonson, The AlchemistVol. 47
- p. 579–580Face's lies about the lady and Surly's suspicion of being gulled; deception drives the scene.read · scan
- p. 598–599Face and Subtle cheat and gull victims, living by deception.read · scan
- p. 643–645Face lies brazenly to Lovewit, inventing a plague-stricken cat to explain the shut house against the neighbours' testimony.read · scan
- p. 646–647Face insists the neighbours saw apparitions and the door was never opened, undermining their testimony while lying himself.read · scan
- p. 647–649Face keeps denying that anyone lived in the house, brazening out lies against accusers.read · scan
- p. 649–651Face's lies unravel as Dapper's voice betrays the house; Lovewit demands the truth the shortest way.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 726Bellario feigns wounds and covers Philaster; loyalty and deception mingle.read · scan
- p. 727Bellario falsely confesses to protect Philaster, who protests his own guilt.read · scan
- p. 727–731Philaster swears by all that is good that he alone did the deed, against Bellario's false confession.read · scan
- p. 744Discovery of Bellario's sex dissolves the jealousies and clears the princessread · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 835–837The Cardinal feigns a false cause for Ferdinand's distraction and hides his own knowledge of the murder.read · scan
- p. 841Julia presses the Cardinal to reveal his secret; he reveals the Duchess and her children were strangled, at his appointment.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 48–49Comus plans false presentments and courteous glozing words to deceive; deceit disguised as friendliness.read · scan
- p. 51Comus, disguised as shepherd, deceives her with feigned courtesy and false praise of her brothers.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 125Satan speaks smoothly and falsely, pretending to come as no enemy but a liberator.read · scan
- p. 136Satan feigns a false shape, using deception to gain his ends.read · scan
- p. 170Gabriel charges Satan with contradiction and lying, profaning the name of faithfulness.read · scan
- p. 180Satan deceives his followers with lies and ambiguous words sowing jealousyread · scan
- p. 216Satan's ambiguous words and deceit mask fire, fraud disguised as terms of peace.read · scan
- p. 278–281Eve's persuasive account is false, with guilty flush betraying her.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 359The Saviour accuses Satan as a composed liar whose oracles mixed truth with falsehood.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 269–271Elmire stages a trap so Orgon will witness Tartuffe's guilt and be undeceived.read · scan
- p. 275–277Orgon hears Tartuffe's treachery himself; Elmire stresses being thoroughly convinced rather than believing on conjecture.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 134–135The flatterer's white robe falls off, revealing the black deceiverread · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 71–76Dolabella confesses his forged lie and asks forgiveness; Cleopatra admits her feigned kindness.read · scan
- p. 84Cleopatra blames Alexas's plot; Antony distrusts appearances and can trust no more.read · scan
- p. 94Ventidius reads falsehood in Alexas's face; Alexas's lie of her death deceives Antony.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 37–38Franklin passes off Ralph's piece as his own to test Osborne's candor.read · scan
- p. 40–41Franklin discovers the governor's promised letters of credit were false and Keith insincere, exposed as a deceiver.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 214–215Tony deceives the travelers with absurd directions, sending them to Hardcastle's house as an inn.read · scan
- p. 224–225They keep Marlow deceived about the house being an inn and plan to deceive him further.read · scan
- p. 236–237Aunt and nephew conspire in a feigned lie about lost jewels.read · scan
- p. 237–239Tony and Mrs. Hardcastle feign loss and theft of jewels, and Tony pretends to bear witness to a falsehood he knows.read · scan
- p. 239–240Miss Hardcastle resolves to keep up Marlow's delusion that she is a bar-maid.read · scan
- p. 248–249Kate keeps up the false role of poor relation and barmaid, deceiving Marlow about his mistake.read · scan
- p. 250–251Deception is pervasive: Kate keeps her disguise and Tony and Neville pretend courtship.read · scan
- p. 253–254Miss Neville pretends to read a harmless letter about cockfighting to hide the elopement plan.read · scan
- p. 266–267Hardcastle accuses Marlow of telling one story to the fathers and another to the daughter, until the mistaken identity is revealed.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 505Douglas as scourge of impostors and quacks and detector of literary frauds.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 95–98Words delusive and visionary scenes cheat the ear; the devil relishes a jest at their expense.read · scan
- p. 127–129Martha suspects he lied on his deathbed; Mephistopheles' tale is itself a fabrication.read · scan
Edward Jenner, The Three Original Publications on Vaccination Against SmallpoxVol. 38
- p. 198–199A soldier falsely claimed to have had cow-pox; rigorous inquiry exposed the imposition.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 155–156Both men lie and prompt Moses to confirm falsehoods; Sir Oliver conceals his identity.read · scan
- p. 170Joseph invents the lie of a French milliner to cover Lady Teazle's presence.read · scan
- p. 171–172Joseph lies and manipulates both Sir Peter and Charles, concealing people and staging false assurances.read · scan
- p. 174–176Joseph's false explanation is exposed by Lady Teazle, who declares not one syllable of it true.read · scan
- p. 178–179Joseph lies about his benefactor and his brother; Sir Oliver, in disguise, tests him.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 30–31Perpetua pretends to know nothing while defending her master, and Renzo probes for the concealed truth.read · scan
- p. 93–95The plan rests on a secret, deceptive surprise of the curate.read · scan
- p. 102Agnese answers the spy's questions with replies contrary to the truth.read · scan
- p. 113–114Tonio and Agnese use pretense and false pretexts to deceive Perpetua.read · scan
- p. 115–116Agnese uses a pretext of being kept late to detain Perpetua while the plot proceeds.read · scan
- p. 117–118Don Abbondio complains how suspicious the world has become, while Tonio conceals the real purpose of the visit with a pretext.read · scan
- p. 121Griso plans a false story of being a lost pilgrim and a spokesman's dialect to mislead Agnese about the origin of the raid.read · scan
- p. 121The bravo is chosen as spokesman so his dialect will deceive Agnese about where the raiders come from.read · scan
- p. 169Gertrude deceives the examiner, giving consistent false answers out of fear and shame.read · scan
- p. 242–243The landlord lies that he spoke 'in joke' to placate Renzo, exploiting his drunkenness.read · scan
- p. 419Abbondio gave false pretexts to conceal the real reason, deceiving the weak and lying to his own flock.read · scan
- p. 507People conceal the sick, bribe officials and obtain false certificates to evade sequestration.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 50–51She denies her act three times despite the gold on her finger.read · scan
- p. 52–53Speech is offered in return for truthful confession, but she persists in denial.read · scan
- p. 54–55The wolf deceives with chalk-softened voice and floured paws; the miller assists out of fear.read · scan
- p. 55The wolf deceives the kids by showing white paws so they believe him to be their motherread · scan
- p. 59John lies about his identity as merchant's servant to lure the princessread · scan
- p. 60The king confesses he is no merchant but a king, having carried her off by subtletyread · scan
- p. 90–92The giant misreads the girdle's slogan; the tailor exploits deceptive appearances.read · scan
- p. 92–93He lies to cover his failure with the cherry tree, claiming he leapt to avoid huntsmen.read · scan
- p. 102–103The pigeons expose the false bride by revealing the blood in the shoe.read · scan
- p. 110–111The wolf's disguise as grandmother deceives Red-Cap until her questions expose it.read · scan
- p. 164The king detects the cook's false claim to have made the soup, and the cook confesses.read · scan
- p. 165She conceals her identity and denies knowing about the ring.read · scan
- p. 173–175The impostor conceals the truth and usurps the bride's place, silencing the princess by an oath and the horse by death.read · scan
- p. 178The old King reveals the true bride and exposes the impostor.read · scan
- p. 211The sisters falsely claim the tree, but it yields only to its true owner, Two-eyes, exposing their lie.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 332–334Beatrice feigns ignorance and denies the murder while the evidence points to her house.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 234–235The rogues' fraud and the officials' pretense show deceit; nobody will admit he sees nothing.read · scan
- p. 237–238A child's innocent cry that the Emperor has nothing on exposes the collective lie.read · scan
- p. 345He deceives the Princess with a false identity.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 17–18Swift's genius flashed on falsehood and exposed the black thoughts of men.read · scan
9c.The liar not believed, and the truthful disbelieved
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 189Eumaeus says vagrants lie lightly for entertainment and Penelope is deceived by them.read · scan
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 27–28The boy's false alarms make villagers disbelieve him when he tells the truth; liars lose credit.read · scan
- p. 28A liar will not be believed even when he speaks the truth.read · scan
- p. 29The wolf is fooled by the nurse's empty threat; words not meant should not be trusted.read · scan
Herodotus, An Account of EgyptVol. 33
- p. 56–57The Trojans told the truth about Helen but were not believed.read · scan
Plato, The Apology of SocratesVol. 2
- p. 15–16Socrates calls Meletus a liar not believed even by himself.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 34The parrot told the truth but was disbelieved and killed; the husband later discovers she was truthful.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 51–52The surgeon lies about the vases' origin, and Cellini's true claim is disbelieved without evidence.read · scan
- p. 115The Pope disbelieves Cellini's claim of blindness, saying he saw well enough to come.read · scan
Ben Jonson, The AlchemistVol. 47
- p. 636–637Face brazenly calls the truthful Surly a liar and cheat to deceive Kastril.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 888–890Overreach refuses to believe Marrall's true report and calls it a lying spirit.read · scan
- p. 905Marrall's earlier report is proved true, confounding Overreach who called it a lying spirit.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 255–257The truth spoken by Damis is dismissed as falsehood while Tartuffe's self-abasement is believed.read · scan
- p. 266–269Elmire proposes to prove her accusation to Orgon, who has branded her a liar.read · scan
- p. 281–284Madame Pernelle refuses to believe Orgon's eyewitness account, saying appearances deceive and one needs foundation for accusing.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 155Franklin's honest word is not believed by Loudoun.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 331–332Werner warns Franziska against the landlord, who laughs it off as a joke; the truth is called a joke.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 263–264The sixth maiden's only skill is telling people the truth, and for that no one heeds her.read · scan
- p. 328–329The Shadow's false story of a mad shadow triumphs; the truthful man is destroyed and the deceiver is called noble.read · scan
9d.False witness, slander and calumny
See also: Emotion 9c
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 49Whether truth wins or loses is decreed by doom, beyond the slanderer's power.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 283–285Enemies speak with lying tongues and deceit against the psalmist.read · scan
- p. 305–307Prays for deliverance from lying lips and deceitful tongue.read · scan
- p. 325Aliens whose mouths speak deceit and right hands of falsehood.read · scan
Euripides, HippolytusVol. 8
- p. 358–359Phaedra's false writing and Theseus's ready belief in a lie cause the death.read · scan
Plato, The Apology of SocratesVol. 2
- p. 5Accusers spoke hardly a word of truth; Socrates promises the whole truth in plain words.read · scan
- p. 6Accusers' falsehoods, spread from envy and malice, cannot be cross-examined; he fights shadows.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 412–413Peter's lies contrasted with Jesus' witness before the council.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 434–435Men are suborned and false witnesses set up to accuse Stephen.read · scan
Plutarch, AlcibiadesVol. 12
- p. 123–124Informers' lies are mocked by Phrynichus; Alcibiades fears false accusers.read · scan
Plutarch, CoriolanusVol. 12
- p. 171A false accusation sent to the consuls is said to have provoked the expulsion of the Volscians.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 281–282Whoever thinks you not good is a liar; be such that the charge is false.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 109–110She lies about her wound, and the husband threatens to kill innocent camel and ass drivers.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 318–319Brynhild accuses Gudrun of knowingly beguiling her despite their sworn oaths.read · scan
- p. 319–321Brynhild accuses Grimhild's evil drink of erasing Sigurd's memory of her; Gudrun calls it a lie.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 126Adamo and Sinon trade charges of counterfeiting and false testimony, exposing each other's lies and perjury.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 155–157Little John calls the monk a liar for slandering Robin as a thief.read · scan
William Roper, The Life of Sir Thomas MoreVol. 36
- p. 125More attacks Rich's sworn testimony as perjury, citing Rich's bad reputation for truthfulness.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 354–355Cellini makes the boy declare the truth in his mother's presence, refuting the slander.read · scan
John Calvin, Dedication of the Institutes of the Christian ReligionVol. 39
- p. 27Enemies oppress the doctrine by falsehoods, artifices and calumnies, without hearing the cause.read · scan
Sir Walter Raleigh, The Discovery of GuianaVol. 33
- p. 305Answers slander that his Guiana ore was worthless, distinguishing true gold ore from marcasite and defending his account.read · scan
- p. 305Rebuts the alderman's slander that discredited the ore and the enterprise.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 243–244Edmund lies fluently, inventing Edgar's words; Gloucester is deceived.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 710–713Arethusa wishes her breast transparent so the world may see her innocence.read · scan
- p. 713–715Arethusa denounces the boy as a dissembler false from the cradle; Bellario prays time reveal the truth.read · scan
- p. 717–719Philaster accuses Bellario of dissembling and deceiving him with feigned tears.read · scan
- p. 742–744Arethusa says her innocence rests on belief; Philaster would trust wind sooner than Megra's wordsread · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 82–83Christian argues his report is truthful, not slander, and that saying and doing are two things.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 172–174Oenone's false story deceives Theseus, who wonders why virtue's stamp shows on a traitor's brow.read · scan
- p. 183–185Aricia urges Hippolytus to reveal the truth to Theseus against Phaedra's calumnies.read · scan
- p. 186–188Falsehood restrained by fear of death at temple; Theseus seeks the truth; Aricia defends Hippolytus's innocence.read · scan
- p. 194–196Phaedra confesses the truth to clear slandered innocence before dying.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 129–132Mephistopheles urges false witness to Herr Schwerdtlein's death; Faust protests; devil argues his own pronouncements on God and man are equally unfounded.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 188–189Conspirators plan to have Snake swear falsely that Charles is contracted to Lady Sneerwell; Joseph juggles lies.read · scan
- p. 192–194Snake reveals he was paid to lie but offered double to speak the truth; forged letters and plots exposed.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 94–96False appearance of truth and trust masks crafty slander.read · scan
- p. 276–278Mansfield's saying that the more true, the more libellous.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 721–722Whispering tongues poison truth and sunder friends.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 116–117Agnese invents a slanderous rumor about Perpetua's suitors to lure her away; Perpetua rages at the falsehood.read · scan
- p. 441–442Lucia defends Renzo from charity and love of truth against false accusations.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 135–136Falsehood of the accusation revealed once she can speak and declare her innocence.read · scan
William Morris, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1183–1185She insists God knows she speaks truth in saying Gauwaine lies.read · scan
- p. 1192–1193She repeats that Gauwaine lies and swears all she said is truth.read · scan
9e.Literary fictions, romances and the question whether they lie
See also: Chivalry 7d · Poetry 10a
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 153–154Alcinous says Odysseus is no knave or cheat fashioning lies, unlike many; his tale is told with honesty and skill.read · scan
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 25Representations show things as their makers wish them to be, not as they are.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 7Advises false attribution and show of learning, mocking pretended authority and dismissing pedants' accusations of untruth.read · scan
- p. 19He takes invented fictions for true history, unable to distinguish fable from fact.read · scan
- p. 49Curate weighs which of an author's books is 'less lying'.read · scan
- p. 301–302Curate distinguishes lying, foolish chivalric books from the true history of the Great Captain, condemning the former to burning.read · scan
- p. 303He credulously prefers marvellous fictions to the true deeds of the Great Captain.read · scan
- p. 304Curate insists chivalric knights never existed and the books are fictions; innkeeper believes them because they were licensed in print.read · scan
- p. 304–305Curate tells host to accept books' truths or falsehoods as he pleases; Sancho hears that chivalry books are lies.read · scan
- p. 473Faults chivalric tales for incredible untruths, such as a youth cleaving a giant in two or crossing lands overnight.read · scan
- p. 473An untruth pleases more the nearer it resembles truth; fables must be likely and possible to please the reader.read · scan
- p. 479Plays mingle fiction with historical verities and commit gross errors, betraying resemblance to truth.read · scan
- p. 486–487The canon attacks chivalric books as lies as far from verity as can be, wondering that anyone believes their impossible adventures.read · scan
- p. 487Books deceive the ignorant vulgar into believing exorbitant untruths.read · scan
- p. 488–489Quixote insists chivalric histories are true and that denying Amadis or Arthur is like denying the sun gives light.read · scan
- p. 489Says whoever denies these accounts lacks reason and good discourse.read · scan
- p. 491He grants part of Quixote's claims but doubts the deeds recounted, noting he has never seen the pin.read · scan
- p. 491Canon refuses to believe the follies of chivalric books even if a relic exists, urging an honourable man not to believe them.read · scan
- p. 492Argues books cannot be lying because they are licensed and describe knights' lineage exactly.read · scan
Sir Philip Sidney, The Defense of PoesyVol. 27
- p. 32–33To lie is to affirm falsehood; the poet, who feigns openly, is least a liar, unlike historians, astronomers and physicians.read · scan
- p. 33–34Naming characters aims at lively pictures, not history; likened to lawyers' fictional names and chess pieces.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 5–11Bunyan invites the reader to find a truth within a fable; allegory as vehicle of truth, honest gospel strains.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Preface to ShakespeareVol. 39
- p. 220Fiction loses its force when it departs from the resemblance of reality, the critics claim; Johnson will contest this.read · scan
- p. 221It is false that any representation is mistaken for reality or credited even for a moment.read · scan
- p. 225–226A mind feasted on fiction has no taste for the insipidity of truth.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 72–74Poet claims his tale is true though some books, even ministers' Scripture-nailed tales, are lies.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 359The king's son insists the small bell does not have the tones that move a human heart.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 21–22Gulliver's circumstantial gravity and blunders make a humour that is 'truth topsy-turvy, entirely logical and absurd'.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 151Fiction can make a human truth vivid but picturesque statement renders views one-sided.read · scan
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