Thursday, March 22, 2018

Lying

Lying

Here at Wordmonger, we celebrated the last week by considering some wise women’s thoughts regarding progress. This week we’ll take a look at what some wise women had/have to say about lying. Next week, who knows?

Elvira always lied to herself before she lied to anybody else, since this gave her a conviction of moral honesty.
Phyllis Bottome

Particular lies may speak a general truth.
George Eliot

You can lock up from a thief, but you can’t from a liar.
Flora Thompson

Once admit the idea that it is good to lie for religion’s sake, and the lie may grow to any dimensions. A little lie may serve a man, but it is hard to calculate how big a lie may be wanted to serve God.
Frances B. Cobbe

Cowards are not invariably liars, but liars are invariably cowards.
Minna Thomas Antrim

Lying is an occupation,
Used by all who mean to rise;
Politicians owe their station
But to well concerted lies.
Letitia Pilkington

May you manage to avoid liars and lies.



My thanks go out to this week’s sources: The New Beacon Book of Quotations by Women., Oxford Dictionary, & Etymonline.

4 comments:

  1. lying to oneself before lying to anyone else to give yourself a conviction of moral honesty is I image done regularly in some circles. I love Minna Antrim's Cowards are not invariably liars, but liars are invariably cowards. That certainly rings true.

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    1. Hey Christine -- I'm struck by the complexity of thought in this collection of quotes. I love the fact that thoughts about one subject all come from such very different perspectives. Tanks for coming by.

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  2. I like the George Eliot quote. In a way, she was a liar, posing as a man to write fiction. But her lie told great truth.

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    1. Great point, Anne. There are historical lies that appear to have been absolutely necessary, aren't there. Wouldn't it be sweet to have the perspective to be able to see which of today's myriad lies might turn out to be necessary. Hmmm.

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