--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People who lie, particularly those who…" description: "\"People who lie, particularly those who lie really big, can't do it effectively unless they feel that there's a righteous power behind what they're doin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/alex-gibney-7495_because_people-who-lie-particularly-those-who-li_1584181.jpg" --- # People who lie, particularly those who lie really big… ![“People who lie, particularly those who lie really big, can't do it effectively unless they feel that there's a righteous power behind what they're doing. You're entitled to lie because the end justifies the means.” quote by Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/alex-gibney-7495_because_people-who-lie-particularly-those-who-li_1584181.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/alex-gibney-7495_because_people-who-lie-particularly-those-who-li_1584181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/alex-gibney-7495_because_people-who-lie-particularly-those-who-li_1584181.jpg) > “People who lie, particularly those who lie really big, can't do it effectively unless they feel that there's a righteous power behind what they're doing. You're entitled to lie because the end justifies the means.” [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People rationalize big lies by believing they serve a higher purpose, making deception feel justified. **In simple terms:** Big lies need a moral cover to feel okay. Key Takeaway Question your motives before justifying deceit. Themes ethics deception power motivation Mood cautious reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political propaganda - corporate fraud - personal justification - legal defense Key Concepts moral rationalization psychology of lying Questions to Reflect On - What higher purpose do you claim when you lie? - Can a lie ever be truly justified? A Different Perspective Such rationalizations can erode trust and lead to self‑deception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [End Justifies The Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-justifies-the-means/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-lie/) [People who lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-who-lie/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody should be entitled to one lie, one failing, one infidelity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/everybody-should-be-entitled-to-one-lie-one-failing-one-infidelity/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [You lie like butter wouldn't melt in your mouth, Edward." He smiled. "I don't lie to you." "Really," I said. The smile became a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-lie-like-butter-wouldn-t-melt-in-your-mouth-edward-he-smiled-i/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I was living a life of a lie, I really was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-was-living-a-life-of-a-lie-i-really-was/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [Is a lie really a lie if it is honestly believed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/is-a-lie-really-a-lie-if-it-is-honestly-believed/) [Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/) > [The only lie I really remember from my adolescence was when I was in sixth grade and I was dropped off with a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/the-only-lie-i-really-remember-from-my-adolescence-was-when-i-was-in/) [Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/) > [Republicans lost it some time ago. 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