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A man will pass better through the world with a thousand…

“A man will pass better through the world with a thousand open errors upon his back than in being detected in one sly falsehood. When one is detected, a thousand are suspected.” quote by Thomas Paine
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“A man will pass better through the world with a thousand open errors upon his back than in being detected in one sly falsehood. When one is detected, a thousand are suspected.”

Thomas Paine

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

It is better to live with many small mistakes openly than to be caught in a single deceit, because one lie invites widespread suspicion.

In simple terms: Open errors are safer than a single lie.

Key Takeaway

Prefer transparency over deceit.

Themes

integrity honesty trust reputation

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

ethical practical

When to use this quote

  • leadership
  • personal relationships
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

ethical behavior risk management personal accountability

Questions to Reflect On

  • What small mistakes have you hidden?
  • How does honesty affect your credibility?
A Different Perspective

Openness can still damage reputation if errors are frequent.

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