Stephen Sondheim Quotes

You want to be very careful about lying; otherwise you are nearly sure to get caught.

On the whole, I should say that the person who likes to lie should never, in any circumstances, be allowed to. Leave the lying to the people who hate it. You will not find them indulging often.

All lies, white or black, disgrace a gentleman, although I grant there is a difference: to say the least of it, it is a dangerous habit, for white lies are but the gentleman ushers to black ones.

For peace of mind, I will lie about any thing at any time.

A small lie, if it actually is a lie, condemns a man as much as a big and black falsehood. If a man will deliberately cheat to the amount of a single cent, give him opportunity and he would cheat to any amount.

It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.

There's hostility to lying, and there should be.

A lie faces God and shrinks from man.

There are people who think that honesty is always the best policy. This is a superstition. There are times when the appearance of it is worth six of it.

An honorable man or woman is one who is truthful; free from deceit; above cheating, lying, stealing, or any form of deception. An honorable man or woman is one who learns early that one cannot do wrong and feel right. A man's character is judged on how he keeps his word and his agreements.

There are few reasons for telling the truth, but for lying the number is infinite.

Do the devils lie? No; for then even hell could not subsist.

Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society.

There are many who say more than the truth on some occasions, and balance the account with their consciences by saying less than the truth on others. But the fact is that they are in both instances as fraudulant as he would be that exacted more than his due from his debtors, and paid less than their due to his creditors.

Now you say you have to absolutely truthful. Sincerity is the main thing, and truthfulness is the main thing and don't lie to anybody ... and you'll get ahead. Brother you sure will. You'll get ahead right on that cycle of action, right toward zero! It's a trap not being able to prevaricate ... This makes life more colorful!

Truth, but not the whole truth, must be the invariable principle of every man who hath either religion, honour, or prudence. Thosewho violate it, may be cunning, but they are not able. Lies and perfidy are the refuge of fools and cowards.

There is nothing that God hates so much as a liar.

In this age, lies were the universal lubricant of the culture. A love of Truth and commitment to it were seldom rewarded and were often punished.

I believe in absolute honesty and sensible social lies.

The inability to lie is far from the love of truth.

There is hardly any man so strict as not to vary a little from truth when he is to make an excuse.

Enough white lies can scorch the earth black.

Only the difference between truth and lies, courage and cowardice.

He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it the second time.

To lapse in fulness Is sorer than to lie for need, and falsehood Is worse in kings than beggars.