It contains a misleading impression, not a lie. It was being economical with the truth.

It is sometimes necessary to lie damnably in the interests of the nation.

Nobody speaks the truth when there's something they must have.

Please don't lie to me, unless you're absolutely sure I'll never find out the truth.

Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well.

Falsehood is invariably the child of fear in one form or another.

Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society.

Lying is an indispensable part of making life tolerable.

Lying rides upon debt's back.

If a lie is repeated often enough all the dumb jackasses in the world not only get to believe it, they even swear by it.

In human relationships, kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths.

That's not a lie, it's a terminological inexactitude. Also, a tactical misrepresentation.

Grow your tree of falsehood from a small grain of truth. Do not follow those who lie in contempt of reality. Let your lie be even more logical than the truth itself, so the weary travelers may find repose.

In plain truth, lying is an accursed vice. We are not men, nor have any other tie upon another, but by our word.

Who does not in some sort live to others, does not live much to himself.

One may sometimes tell a lie, but the grimace that accompanies it tells the truth.

Whoever is detected in a shameful fraud is ever after not believed even if they speak the truth.

To the rulers of the state then, if to any, it belongs of right to use falsehood, to deceive either enemies or their own citizens, for the good of the state: and no one else may meddle with this privilege.

Lies are essential to humanity. They are perhaps as important as the pursuit of pleasure and moreover are dictated by that pursuit.

"They say" is often a great liar.

With lies you may go ahead in the world, but you can never go back.

Telling lies is a fault in a boy, an art in a lover, an accomplishment in a bachelor, and second-nature in a married man.

No lying knight or lying priest ever prospered in any age, but especially not in the dark ones. Men prospered then only in following an openly declared purpose, and preaching candidly beloved and trusted creeds.

Liars need to have good memories.

All lies and jests, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.

Lying is like alcoholism. You are always recovering.

I would dodge, not lie, in the national interest.

There is no lie that a man will not believe; and there is no man who does not believe many lies; and there is no man who believes only lies.

Don't lie if you don't have to.

You don't tell deliberate lies, but sometimes you have to be evasive.

If one cannot invent a really convincing lie, it is often better to stick to the truth.

You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.

If you do not wish to be lied to, do not ask questions. If there were no questions, there would be no lies.

One of the striking differences between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

It is easier to gather up a bag of loose feathers than to round up or head off a single lie.

Never forget that a half truth is a whole lie.

I should like to lie at your feet and die in your arms.

A lie can run around the world before the truth can get it's boots on.

The liar at any rate recognizes that recreation, not instruction, is the aim of conversation, and is a far more civilized being than the blockhead who loudly expresses his disbelief in a story which is told simply for the amusement of the company.

If you wish to strengthen a lie, mix a little truth in with it.

Please Note: Ashleigh Brilliant epigrams ("BRILLIANT THOUGHTS" ®) are individually protected by international copyright, and appear here by special permission. All rights reserved. To read more BRILLIANT THOUGHTS ® or to get permission to use Ashleigh's quotations, visit his website (www.ashleighbrilliant.com).