Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes

The lie is so vile, that even if it were in speaking well of godly things, it would take off something from God's grace; and Truth is so excellent, that if it praises but small things they become noble.

There never was a liar that had not a spot in him where he could not help admiring truth.

There is an innocence in lying which is the sign of good faith in a cause.

It is always easier to deal in truth and honesty and follow these to their legitimate ends, than it is to construct and adjust a false superstructure upon a false base.

It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual.

It is dishonorable to say one thing and think another; how much more dishonorable to write one thing and think another.

The insincerity of man-all men are liars, partial or hiders of facts, half tellers of truths, shirks, moral sneaks. When a merely honest man appears he is a comet-his fame is eternal-needs no genius, no talent-mere honesty

A man will pass better through the world with a thousand open errors upon his back than in being detected in one sly falsehood. When one is detected, a thousand are suspected.

Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie: a fault which needs it most, grows two thereby.

No lie ever reaches old age.

I abhor hypocrisy.

Don't lie if you don't have to.

Honest people don't hide their deeds.

I love the truth. Tell the truth and live the truth, because we've seen enough lies and look what it's doing.

I can't tell a lie - not even when I hear one.

Subtlety may deceive you; integrity never will.

Truth is the cry of all, but the game of the few.

He who does not need to lie is proud of not being a liar.

It might be said that the pose of absolute honesty is the most dishonest one of all.

I don't talk for the sake of talking and I don't talk with a forked tongue.

I don't tell lies. I don't need to.

He would be the finer gentleman that should leave the world without having tasted of lying or pretence of any sort, or of wantonness or conceit.

The virtuous will be sure to speak uprightly; but those whose speech is upright may not be virtuous.

I am sure, zeal or love for truth can never permit falsehood to be used in the defense of it.

Truth from the mouth of an honest man and severity from a good-natured man have a double effect.