Quotes About Deception

Though most of the friendships of the world ill deserve the name of friendships; yet a man may make use of them on occasion, as of a traffic whose returns are uncertain, and in which 'tis usual to be cheated.

Our virtues are usually just vices in disguise.

He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world can't do without him is yet more mistaken.

'Tis as easy to deceive ourselves without our perceiving it, as 'tis difficult to deceive others without their perceiving it.

Hypocrisy is the homage of vice to virtue.

Those who have the most cunning affect all their lives to condemn cunning; that they may make use of it on some great occasion, and to some great end.

If we took as much pains to be what we ought, as we do to deceive others by disguising what we are; we might appear as we are, without being at the trouble of any disguise.

There are women who never had an intrigue; but there are scarce any who never had but one.

The ambitious deceive themselves in proposing an end to their ambition; that end, when attained, becomes a means.

Men are never so easily deceived as when they are endeavoring to deceive others.

Duplicity is necessary in daily life, in that it covers many unpleasant things from sight, so they may not disturb the pleasure of others.

Words are naught but wind, and the fairest promises like dreams that take flight with the morning.

I'm telling you a lie in a vicious effort that you will repeat my lie over and over until it becomes true

Mountains appear more lofty the nearer they are approached, but great men resemble them not in this particular.

Aristotle was once asked what those who tell lies gain by it. Said he, That when they speak truth they are not believed.

As for the wine in the cups, it looked like water; but, as it tasted all right, what did its looks signify?

We owe more to our illusions than to our knowledge.

Perhaps it was because, in those days, I fed my hopes of freedom in whichever way I could, without realizing that I was only hooking myself to different lures. F

I know now that these conquerors, like many others before them, and no doubt like others after, gave speeches not to voice the truth, but to create it.

know now that these conquerors, like many others before them, and no doubt like others after, gave speeches not to voice the truth, but to create it. At

Attempts to wake before our time are often punished, especially by those who love us most. Because they, bless them, are asleep. They think anyone who wakes up, or who, still asleep, realizes that what is taken to be real is a "dream" is going crazy.

They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game.

Human beings seem to have an almost unlimited capacity to deceive themselves, and to deceive themselves into taking their own lies for truth.

It was cruel. Like opening a birdcage to let the bird fly out, whilst all the while it's tethered by the leg, and freedom is only an illusion.