--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truth is more deceptive than falsehood…" description: "\"Truth is more deceptive than falsehood, for it is more frequently presented by those from whom we do not expect it, and so has against it a numerical p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/ambrose-bierce-140_deceptive_truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-f_2198097.jpg" --- # Truth is more deceptive than falsehood, for it is more… ![“Truth is more deceptive than falsehood, for it is more frequently presented by those from whom we do not expect it, and so has against it a numerical presumption.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/ambrose-bierce-140_deceptive_truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-f_2198097.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/ambrose-bierce-140_deceptive_truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-f_2198097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/ambrose-bierce-140_deceptive_truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-f_2198097.jpg) > “Truth is more deceptive than falsehood, for it is more frequently presented by those from whom we do not expect it, and so has against it a numerical presumption.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth can be more misleading than lies because it often comes from unexpected sources, leading people to assume it’s correct without scrutiny. **In simple terms:** Truth can be deceptive when unexpected. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about sources of truth. Themes trust deception critical thinking Mood skeptical analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - media consumption - political discourse - personal relationships Key Concepts cognitive bias source credibility Questions to Reflect On - Who do you trust and why? - How do you test truth claims? A Different Perspective Even truth can be misused; verify evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deceptive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceptive/) [Deceptive Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceptive-falsehood-4817373/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Falsehood Frequently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood-frequently-2978094/) [Presumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presumption/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Deceptive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-deceptive-3617397/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) ## Related quotes > [Somewhere between the honest truth and the deceptive lie is the deceptive truth and the honest lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/somewhere-between-the-honest-truth-and-the-deceptive-lie-is-the/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The truth cannot be deceptive, and one who sees it cannot be deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-nursi/the-truth-cannot-be-deceptive-and-one-who-sees-it-cannot-be-deceived/) [Said Nursi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-nursi/) > [That queen, of error, whom we call fancy and opinion, is the more deceitful because she does not always deceive. She would be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/that-queen-of-error-whom-we-call-fancy-and-opinion-is-the-more/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Imagination is the deceptive part in man, the mistress of error and falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/imagination-is-the-deceptive-part-in-man-the-mistress-of-error-and/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing indeed can be a stronger presumption of falsehood than the approbation of the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/nothing-indeed-can-be-a-stronger-presumption-of-falsehood-than-the/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [PREHISTORIC, adj. Belonging to an early period and a museum. Antedating the art and practice of perpetuating falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/prehistoric-adj-belonging-to-an-early-period-and-a-museum-antedating/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/too-great-cleverness-is-but-deceptive-delicacy-true-delicacy-is-the/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Famous people are deceptive. Deep down, they're just regular people. Like Larry King. We've been friends for forty years. He's one of the few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/famous-people-are-deceptive-deep-down-they-re-just-regular-people/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“Destiny is not obvious, it's deceptive, but you can't stop if from happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-simmons/destiny-is-not-obvious-it-s-deceptive-but-you-can-t-stop-if-from/) [Terence Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-simmons/) > [Landscapes can be deceptive. Sometimes a landscape seems to be less a setting for the life of its inhabitants than a curtain behind which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/landscapes-can-be-deceptive-sometimes-a-landscape-seems-to-be-less-a/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [“right wing’s most common techniques—including the deceptive use of statistics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/right-wing-s-most-common-techniques-including-the-deceptive-use-of/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“Looks are deceptive and has an ability to compel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momin-mishra/looks-are-deceptive-and-has-an-ability-to-compel/) [Momin Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momin-mishra/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Do not be misled by appearances for these are apt to be deceptive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/do-not-be-misled-by-appearances-for-these-are-apt-to-be-deceptive/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Deceptive quotes > [Do not be misled by appearances for these are apt to be deceptive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/do-not-be-misled-by-appearances-for-these-are-apt-to-be-deceptive/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Looks are deceptive and has an ability to compel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momin-mishra/looks-are-deceptive-and-has-an-ability-to-compel/) [Momin Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momin-mishra/) > [“right wing’s most common techniques—including the deceptive use of statistics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/right-wing-s-most-common-techniques-including-the-deceptive-use-of/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Imagination is the deceptive part in man, the mistress of error and falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/imagination-is-the-deceptive-part-in-man-the-mistress-of-error-and/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Landscapes can be deceptive. Sometimes a landscape seems to be less a setting for the life of its inhabitants than a curtain behind which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/landscapes-can-be-deceptive-sometimes-a-landscape-seems-to-be-less-a/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [“Destiny is not obvious, it's deceptive, but you can't stop if from happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-simmons/destiny-is-not-obvious-it-s-deceptive-but-you-can-t-stop-if-from/) [Terence Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-simmons/) > [Famous people are deceptive. Deep down, they're just regular people. Like Larry King. We've been friends for forty years. He's one of the few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/famous-people-are-deceptive-deep-down-they-re-just-regular-people/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/too-great-cleverness-is-but-deceptive-delicacy-true-delicacy-is-the/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind the deceptive words designed to entice people into supporting violence -- words like democracy, freedom, self-defense, national security -- there is the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/behind-the-deceptive-words-designed-to-entice-people-into-supporting/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“Experience, as we know, is deceptive: one judges the world through the prism of what has happened to oneself and considers this a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-bonilla/experience-as-we-know-is-deceptive-one-judges-the-world-through-the/) [Juan Bonilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-bonilla/) > [And I despise your books, I despise wisdom and the blessings of this world. It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/and-i-despise-your-books-i-despise-wisdom-and-the-blessings-of-this/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Life, as the most ancient of all metaphors insists, is a journey; and the travel book, in its deceptive simulation of the journey's fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raban/life-as-the-most-ancient-of-all-metaphors-insists-is-a-journey-and/) [Jonathan Raban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raban/) > [The important task rarely must be done today, or even this week...But the urgent task calls for instant action...The momentary appeal of these tasks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hummel/the-important-task-rarely-must-be-done-today-or-even-this-week-but/) [Charles Hummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hummel/) > [Sade's stuff is real deceptive. She's got stuff about prostitutes, poverty and people on the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-williams/sade-s-stuff-is-real-deceptive-she-s-got-stuff-about-prostitutes/) [Lucinda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-williams/) [Browse all 177 Deceptive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceptive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Truth is more deceptive than falsehood, for it is more frequently presented by those from whom we do not expect it, and so has against it a numerical presumption.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-for-it-is-more-frequently/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deceptive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-for-it-is-more-frequently/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/ambrose-bierce-140_deceptive_truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-f_2198097.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/ambrose-bierce-140_deceptive_truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-f_2198097.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/ambrose-bierce-140_deceptive_truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-f_2198097.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Truth is more deceptive than falsehood, for it is more frequently presented by those from whom we do not…” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Truth is more deceptive than falsehood,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-for-it-is-more-frequently/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/truth-is-more-deceptive-than-falsehood-for-it-is-more-frequently/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```