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.

Resolved to die in the last dyke of prevarication.

Resolved to die in the last dyke of prevarication.

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

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

Never chase a lie. Let it alone, and it will run itself to death. I can work out a good read more

Never chase a lie. Let it alone, and it will run itself to death. I can work out a good character much faster than anyone can lie me out of it.

Halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lies.

Halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lies.

But that he wrought so high the specious tale,
As manifested plainly 'twas a lie.
[Lat., Se read more

But that he wrought so high the specious tale,
As manifested plainly 'twas a lie.
[Lat., Se non volea pulir sua scusa tanto,
Che la facesse di menzogna rea.]

I tell him, if a clergyman, he lies!
If captains the remark, or critics, make,
Why they read more

I tell him, if a clergyman, he lies!
If captains the remark, or critics, make,
Why they lie also--under a mistake.

You lie--under a mistake--
For this is the most civil sort of lie
That can be given read more

You lie--under a mistake--
For this is the most civil sort of lie
That can be given to a man's face, I now
Say what I think.

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.]