Andre Gide Quotes

Let none of us delude himself by supposing that honesty is always the best policy. It is not.

The diplomat holds all acts honorable which bring him success, all things are righteous which serve his ends. If cheating is necessary, he will cheat; if lying is useful, he will lie; if bribery helps, he will bribe; if murder serves, he will order murder; if burglary, seduction, arson or forgery brings success nearer, all and each of these will be done.

Taking things not as they ought to be, but as they are, I fear it must be allowed that Macchiavelli will always have more disciples than Jesus.

True knights protect the weak.” He snorted. “There are no true knights, no more than there are gods. If you can’t protect yourself, die and get out of the way of those who can. Sharp steel and strong arms rule this world, don’t ever believe any different.” Sansa backed away from him. “You’re awful.” “I’m honest. It’s the world that’s awful.

So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil.

Realizing that people should lie when they do makes me a little more open-minded, a little more tolerant, when my child or my partner lies.

There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.

It is a poor cause which has to be lied for regularly.

Young people are just as attracted to the truth as they are convenience and expediency.

Insincerity is always weakness; sincerity even in error is strength.

In the world in which we live, truth is an ancillary virtue, but it shouldn't be.

We're a nation of liars. But I mean that in the kindest sense.

Governments acting in a crisis are guided by questions of expediency, and moral considerations are given very little weight, and that America is no different from any other nation in this respect.

Sometimes it is necessary to make things clearer than the truth.

The governors of the world believe, and have always believed, that virtue can only be taught by teaching falsehood, and that any man who knew the truth would be wicked.

Truth is a very powerful political weapon against those who are trying to conceal it.

It is sometimes necessary to lie damnably in the interest of the country.

If the ends don't justify the means, what does?

There's no right or wrong just truthful or untruthful.

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

They say that the truth will set you free But then again, so will a lie... It depends if you're trying to get to the promised land Or if you're just trying to get by.

Is it possible to tell the truth in a society of lies? Or must you always, of necessity, become a liar?

You can get away with anything as long as it works.

Democracy is a constant tension between truth and half-truth and, in the arsenal of truth, there is no greater weapon than fact.

You have to attack once the truth is too weak to defend itself.