Jeannette Walls Quotes

I was in control of what people thought of me, but I had no control over what they thought of my mother. When I asked my mother, 'How do I tell people about you?' her answer was, 'Tell the truth'. But of course, the truth is never simple.

Nothing is true, but that which is simple.

You can't say you want things to be simple and then in the next breath ask me to be honest.

Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to them by definition, because if you're trying to summarize something for your 1-year-old, you put it in very simple terms. You only gradually complicate the explanation as they get older.

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.

What is simple is false and what is not is useless.

Jesus made everything so simple and we have made it so complicated. He spoke to the people in short sentences and everyday words, illustrating His messages with never-to-be forgotten stories.

Truth is love's mother, and we all know it is not wise to lie to anyone's mother.

Science is always simple and always profound. It is only the half-truths that are dangerous.

Man must learn to simplify, but not to the point of falsification.

I was raised by and have raised people who regard telling one story when two would do as a sign someone is not really trying.

Do not be alarmed by simplification, complexity is often a device for claiming sophistication, or for evading simple truths.

the language of truth is too simple for inexperienced ears.

Truth is too simple for us: we do not like those who unmask our illusions.

What is more simple than to tell to a little boy, 'This is not the truth, it is a game?'

Lying is too much trouble. You have to make sure to taste each word before letting it off your tongue. I hate that. It's hard enough making people understand without lying.

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.

When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion faster than adults, and evasion simply muddles 'em.

I'm a really bad liar. My mom finds out every time, especially now that she's got Facebook.

I'm into people's emotional lives and relationships and the complications of living. That's my turf.

Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.

What I do with my kids is I tell them I love them every day, but also I tell them the truth.

There is an interaction and action, reaction between two people. One should show honesty in a relationship. Be honest to your partner and tell him everything. How long can you do things with dishonesty and that's wrong. Don't get into a relationship if you can't be honest.

Tell the children the truth.

Once you lose the honesty in a relationship, I mean, I think you don't have a relationship at all.