He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much…
“He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Repeated lying erodes integrity, making falsehoods habitual and corrupting character and trust.
In simple terms: Lying becomes a habit that damages honesty.
Key Takeaway
Guard truthfulness to protect character.
Themes
integrity
honesty
character
trust
habit
Mood
reflective
cautionary
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- political leadership
- legal testimony
- media reporting
Key Concepts
moral decay
self‑deception
social trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a small lie affect your self‑image?
- What steps can you take to rebuild trust after dishonesty?
A Different Perspective
Habitual lying can be rationalized, making it hard to break.