And none speaks false, when there in none to hear.

And none speaks false, when there in none to hear.

The cruelest lies are often told in silence.

The cruelest lies are often told in silence.

So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not
to trust himself on the read more

So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not
to trust himself on the narrow edge.
[Lat., Ita enim finitima sunt falsa veris ut in praecipitem locum
non debeat se sapiens committere.]

The lie is a condition of life.

The lie is a condition of life.

A lie with a purpose is one of the worst kind, and the most profitable.

A lie with a purpose is one of the worst kind, and the most profitable.

There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it.

There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it.

A liar is always lavish of oaths.
[Fr., Un menteur est toujours prodigue de serments.]

A liar is always lavish of oaths.
[Fr., Un menteur est toujours prodigue de serments.]

We payt a person the complement of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to him.

We payt a person the complement of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to him.

He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced read more

He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.