Lies of omission do not exist. The concept is a very human…
““Lies of omission do not exist. The concept is a very human one. It is the product of your story writing again. You have written a story about the truth, making emotional demands of it, and in particular, of those in possession of it. Your demands are based on a feeling of entitlement to the facts, which is very childish. You can never know all of the facts. Only I can. And since it's impossible for me to reveal all facts to you, it is my discretion alone that decides which facts will be revealed in the finite time we have. If I do not volunteer information you deem critical to your fate, it possibly means that I am a scoundrel, but it does not mean that I am a liar. And it certainly means you did not ask the right questions. One can make either true statements or false statements about reality. All of the statements I make are true.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker claims that omission is not lying; truth is selective, based on discretion and the listener’s questions, and all statements made are true.
In simple terms: Omission isn’t lying; truth is selective and based on questions.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that truth can be partial and ask better questions.
Themes
truth
communication
ethics
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- debates
- interviews
- media analysis
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
discretion
entitlement
questioning
Questions to Reflect On
- What facts are you missing?
- How do you verify a claim’s truth?
A Different Perspective
It assumes the speaker’s authority is infallible, which may be false.