Mark Twain Quotes

When you're a liar, a person of low moral fortitude, really any explanation you need to be true can be true. Especially if you're smart enough. You can figure out a way to justify anything.

Know that a lie is not haram [wrong] in itself, but only because the evil conclusions to which it leads the hearer, making him believe something that is not really the case.... If a lie is the only way of obtaining a good result, it is permissible.... We must lie when truth leads to unpleasant results.

It contains a misleading impression, not a lie. I was being economical with the truth.

It is perhaps being economical with the truth.

What most men call their conscience is imaginary virtue switching left or right according to self-interest.

Observe this, that tho a woman swear, forswear, lie, dissemble, back-bite, be proud, vain, malicious, anything, if she secures the main chance, she's still virtuous; that's a maxim.

We're all liars when it serves our purpose.

I really know nothing more criminal, more mean, and more ridiculous than lying. It is the production either of malice, cowardice, or vanity; and generally misses of its aim in every one of these views; for lies are always detected, sooner or later.

If I should go out of church whenever I hear a false statement I could never stay there five minutes. But why come out? The streetis as false as the church, and when I get to my house, or to my manners, or to my speech, I have not got away from the lie.

I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things.

It is easy for men to talk one thing and think another.

In the end a lie is a lie.

Where even a falsehood must be told, let it be told.

In writing, I shall always confine myself strictly to the truth, except when it is attended with inconvenience.

The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that's also a hypocrite!

Put away from you a dissembling mouth.

One to mislead the public, another to mislead the Cabinet, and the third to mislead itself.

Saying one is adopting one's policies to changing circumstances is a nice way of saying "I lied.

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle or a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven, than for a politician to lay aside disguise.

He is only honest who is not discovered.

The first thing a man will do for his ideals is lie.

Hypocrisy is not the failure to practice what you preach but the failure to believe it. Hypocrisy is propaganda.

We suppose mankind more honest than they are.

An untruth must be spoken, where need requires. For whether men lie, or say true, it is with one and the same object. Men lie, because they think to gain by deceiving others; and speak the truth, because they expect to get something by their true speaking, and to be trusted afterwards in more important matters. Thus, though their conduct is so opposite, the end of both is alike. If there were no gain to be got, your true-speaking man would tell untruths as much as your liar, and your liar would tell the truth as much as your true-speaking man.

Truly, to tell lies is not honorable; But when the truth entails tremendous ruin, To speak dishonorably is pardonable.