Sarah Dessen Quotes

Lying is the most simple form of self-defence.

Alas! how difficult it is not to betray one's guilt by one's looks.

We've always been told to pretend as if we're not afraid.

people who say its a long story, mean it's a stupid short one that they are too embarrassed and couldn't be bothered to tell

Society is like a crowd in carnival costumes with everyone fearful that others will see through his disguise.

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie; for an excuse is a lie guarded.

Men take more pains to mask than mend.

I'm trying to be really coy, and I'm not sure if I'm doing a good job.

If you looked busy, you could get away with almost anything.

I did what I could to keep up the ruse. I was travelling quite a bit, so any opportunity I could, I would travel through Atlanta and stay a day or so. I'd make sure I was 'seen' in some of Atlanta's restaurants. And I dyed my hair the whole time, every two weeks, to keep the haircut.

The trouble with a mask is it never changes

That's sort of a trick question, and I don't have a trick answer. Next question, please. You're not going to get me with that question today, buddy...I'm a veteran at this, buddy. Can't get that with me, buddy. Not today.

People only tell lies when there is something they are terribly frightened of losing.

Joel Cairo: You always have a very smooth explanation ready. Sam Spade: What do you want me to do, learn to stutter?

And if, to be sure, sometimes you need to conceal a fact with words, do it in such a way that it does not become known, or, if it does become known, that you have a ready and quick defense.

A technicality I'm prepared to hide wildly behind.

It’s a simple truth that a secret is something you’re ashamed of.

Anything I tell you is an alibi for something else." Then let's be quiet together.

You didn't tell a lie, you just left a big hole in the truth.

I looked at Thalia. "You're afraid of heights." Now that we were safely down the mountain, her eyes had their usual angry look. "Don't be stupid." That explains why you freaked out on Apollo's bus. Why you didn't want to talk about it." She took a deep breath. Then she brushed the pine needles out of her hair. "If you tell anyone, I swear—" No, no," I said. "That's cool. It's just… the daughter of Zeus, the Lord of the Sky, afraid of heights?

I think it's important that you always transform if you can. That's what I was trained to do. You try and hide yourself as much as you can - that's the key to longevity.

A sin takes on a new and real terror when there seems a chance that it is going to be found out.

At first, the new owner pretends he never looked at the living room floor.

If you are bent on assuming a pose and never reveal yourself to anyone frankly, in the fashion of many who live a false life that is all made up for show; for it is torturous to be constantly watching oneself and be fearful of being caught out of our usual role. And we are never free from concern if we think that every time anyone looks at us he is always taking-our measure; for many things happen that strip off our pretence against our will, and, though all this attention to self is successful, yet the life of those who live under a mask cannot be happy and without anxiety.