Michael Parenti Quotes

When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn't swallow the hypocrisy.

In Washington telling the truth is a gaff.

The reality often times does not match the rhetoric. The rhetoric is very easy if you keep the reality secret.

The need always to lie and always to avoid the truth stripped everyone of what Custine called 'the two greatest gifts of God-the soul and the speech which communicates it.' People became hypocritical, cunning, mistrustful, cynical, silent, cruel, and indifferent to the fate of others as a result of the destruction of their own souls.

No, we don't cheat. And even if we did, I'd never tell you.

I think all politicians lie.

I detest politics, to be honest with you. It's a cesspool. And I don't think I would fare well in that cesspool because I don't believe in political correctness and I certainly don't believe in dishonesty.

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

Hypocrisy is a detriment to progress. There's always a hidden agenda.

The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it.

… they seem to be such as would not swear, whore, nor be drunk, but they would lie, cozen and deceive.

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

The only way to cover up a lie? Keep lying.

In my experience in Washington, when people refuse to come clean, it is usually because they are hiding dirty laundry.

How is it possible for those who are men of honor in their persons, thus to become notorious liars in their party

The difference between a politician and a pickpocket is that a pickpocket doesn't always get indignant when you tell him to keep his hands to himself.

Why so much innuendo, draped like ivy to hide a cesspool, when everyone knew the cesspool was there?

Enough white lies can scorch the earth black.

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

His (Deschamps') complaint of court life was the same as is made of government at the top in any age: it was composed of hypocrisy, flattery, lying, paying and betraying; it was where calumny and cupidity reigned, common sense lacked, truth dared not appear, and where to survive one had to be deaf, blind, and dumb.

There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At home one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell lies to the children.

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.

She turned to Frizz. "So you understand the problem? You can't let Tally know about Radical Honesty. There's no telling what she'll do if she finds out you could ruin her plans." Frizz's eyebrows rose. "So let me get this straight, Aya-chan. You want me, a person who can't lie, to lie about the fact that I can't lie?" "We need another plan," Hiro said.

We fell morally ill because we became used to saying something different from what we thought.

And for a price, I will pretend absolutely nothing.