Quoth Hudibras, I smell a rat;
Ralpho, thou dost prevaricate.

Quoth Hudibras, I smell a rat;
Ralpho, thou dost prevaricate.

And, after all, what is a lie? 'Tis but
The truth in masquerade.

And, after all, what is a lie? 'Tis but
The truth in masquerade.

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

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

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

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

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.]

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.]

Who dares think one thing, and another tell,
My heart detests him as the gates of hell.

Who dares think one thing, and another tell,
My heart detests him as the gates of hell.

The lie is a condition of life.

The lie is a condition of life.

A little inaccuracy sometimes saves a lot of explanations.

A little inaccuracy sometimes saves a lot of explanations.