Quotes About Deception

Let none of us delude himself by supposing that honesty is always the best policy. It is not.

I've done more harm by the falseness of trying to please than by the honesty of trying to hurt.

Falsehood is never in words; it is in things.

It is not without good reason, that he who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying.

Why do villains have so much influence? Because the honest people are terribly dense.

Honesty is the best policy, says the familiar axiom; but people who are honest on that principle defraud no one but themselves.

He who is not sure of his memory, should not undertake the trade of lying.

Honesty is the most subversive of all disguises.

Honesty, for me, is usually the worst policy imaginable.

Implausible truth can serve one better than plausible fiction

Since in the long run deception is likely to be found out, your character had better not only seem good, but be it.

When self-interest inclines a man to print, he should consider that the purchaser expects a pennyworth for his penny, and has reason to asperse his honesty if he finds himself deceived.

An honest man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not.

When one wanted one's interests looking after whatever the cost, it was not so well for a lawyer to be over honest, else he might not be up to other people's tricks.

With other people, Hilly hands out lies like the Presbyterians hand out guilt, but it's our own silent agreement, this strict honesty, perhaps the one thing that has kept us friends

About a veteran player thrown out trying to steal second: There was larceny in his heart, but his legs were honest.

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

Like the he-man movie stars who turn out to be queer . . . or the silent-film actors whose voices sound terrible recorded--the audience only wants a limited amount of honesty. [ellipses original]

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools that don't have brains enough to be honest.

Barring that natural expression of villainy which we all have the man looked honest enough.

Unfortunately in today's world a liar seems to be more reliable than a truthful honest man.

I'm a liar and a cheat and a coward, but I will never, ever, let a friend down. Unless of course not letting them down requires honesty, fair play, or bravery.

Secrets are lies by another name.

I am the false character that follows the name around.