--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When someone says 'be honest' what they…" description: "\"When someone says 'be honest' what they really mean is: lie to me, but be as convincing as possible.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/anonymous-1_dishonesty_when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-re_968545.jpg" --- # When someone says 'be honest' what they really mean is… ![“When someone says 'be honest' what they really mean is: lie to me, but be as convincing as possible.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/anonymous-1_dishonesty_when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-re_968545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/anonymous-1_dishonesty_when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-re_968545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/anonymous-1_dishonesty_when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-re_968545.jpg) > “When someone says 'be honest' what they really mean is: lie to me, but be as convincing as possible.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often misuse “honesty” to demand convincing deception, highlighting hypocrisy in communication. **In simple terms:** “Be honest” can mean “lie convincingly.” Key Takeaway Question sincerity and motives. Themes honesty deception communication trust Mood skeptical critical inquisitive Type aphorical cautionary observational When to use this quote - workplace feedback - personal relationships - political rhetoric - media statements Key Concepts ethical paradox social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When have you been asked to be “honest” but felt pressured? - How can you verify truthfulness? A Different Perspective Not all requests for honesty are manipulative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dishonesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Keeping it real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-it-real/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [On Facebook, a lie can seem as convincing to some as an article from SPIEGEL or the Washington Post. That's a problem. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/on-facebook-a-lie-can-seem-as-convincing-to-some-as-an-article-from/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [“The first thing a person says is often more honest than later explanations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rogan/the-first-thing-a-person-says-is-often-more-honest-than-later/) [Charlotte Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rogan/) > [“Honey, she says, honest ain’t the half of what I’m not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-bell/honey-she-says-honest-ain-t-the-half-of-what-i-m-not/) [Alden Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-bell/) > [Telling me lies is easier for you than to tell me the truth? Well me not trusting you is easier than getting hurt by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/telling-me-lies-is-easier-for-you-than-to-tell-me-the-truth-well-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people don't like telling the truth... And some people can't handle hearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-don-t-like-telling-the-truth-and-some-people-can-t-handle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Live for the now and always be honest with yourself about what you really seek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-for-the-now-and-always-be-honest-with-yourself-about-what-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Lying is easy. But it's lonely." "What do you mean?" "When you lie to everyone about everything, what's left? What's true?" "Nothing," I say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/lying-is-easy-but-it-s-lonely-what-do-you-mean-when-you-lie-to/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“c'mon now, honey, don't be mad at me. I don't mean to lie, I just remember big.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/c-mon-now-honey-don-t-be-mad-at-me-i-don-t-mean-to-lie-i-just/) [Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/) > [“Say that you love me. You don't have to mean it. You can lie. Just say it so I can pretend for a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-cummings/say-that-you-love-me-you-don-t-have-to-mean-it-you-can-lie-just-say/) [Carole Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-cummings/) > [Just because it's a dream doesn't mean it's a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/just-because-it-s-a-dream-doesn-t-mean-it-s-a-lie/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [If you have to SNEAK to do it, LIE to cover it up, or DELETE it to avoid it being seen then maybe you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheya/if-you-have-to-sneak-to-do-it-lie-to-cover-it-up-or-delete-it-to/) [SHEYA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheya/) > [Don't talk when your mouth is full of LIES.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-talk-when-your-mouth-is-full-of-lies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know you so well. You act like you're so nice. You act like you really care. You act like you truly love me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-you-so-well-you-act-like-you-re-so-nice-you-act-like-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The feeling of being deceived, completely betrayed by someone so close to your clueless heart. You tell them everything, all the emotions and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-feeling-of-being-deceived-completely-betrayed-by-someone-so-close/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That awesome moment when someone is lying and you know the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awesome-moment-when-someone-is-lying-and-you-know-the-truth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Dishonesty quotes > [The greatest gift you can give to those around you is honesty. Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply—I was casually sorry, and then I forgot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/dishonesty-in-a-woman-is-a-thing-you-never-blame-deeply-i-was/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Telling me lies is easier for you than to tell me the truth? Well me not trusting you is easier than getting hurt by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/telling-me-lies-is-easier-for-you-than-to-tell-me-the-truth-well-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Cheating is like eating fast food. You do it, you enjoy it, and then you end up feeling like shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/cheating-is-like-eating-fast-food-you-do-it-you-enjoy-it-and-then-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“If you wear a mask for too long, there will come a time when you can not remove it without removing your face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-wear-a-mask-for-too-long-there-will-come-a-time-when-you-can/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Don't be afraid of enemies who attack you. Be afraid of the friends who flatter you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/don-t-be-afraid-of-enemies-who-attack-you-be-afraid-of-the-friends/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Excuses are the best friend of a lie, and leaving information out are its brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-skinner/excuses-are-the-best-friend-of-a-lie-and-leaving-information-out-are/) Jamie Skinner > [It is never just disagreement but always intellectual dishonesty that is the apologist's worst enemy. And its apprentice is ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/it-is-never-just-disagreement-but-always-intellectual-dishonesty-that/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Some people don't like telling the truth... And some people can't handle hearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-don-t-like-telling-the-truth-and-some-people-can-t-handle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“An insincere individual would feel afraid to admit the truth because he or she wants to avoid facing the consequences with a guilty conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saaif-alam/an-insincere-individual-would-feel-afraid-to-admit-the-truth-because/) [Saaif Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saaif-alam/) > [The removal of religion as history from our schoolbooks betrays the intellectual dishonesty of secular humanist educators and reveals their blind hostility to Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/the-removal-of-religion-as-history-from-our-schoolbooks-betrays-the/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [That awesome moment when someone is lying and you know the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awesome-moment-when-someone-is-lying-and-you-know-the-truth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is nothing more distressing ... than the hard, scoffing spirit which treats the allegation of dishonesty in a public man as a cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-nothing-more-distressing-than-the-hard-scoffing-spirit-which/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“The tombstone over the grave of the conscience always reads: "Human Nature".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/the-tombstone-over-the-grave-of-the-conscience-always-reads-human/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [I so wreak of logic and commonsense that it is obviously very refreshing in this world of otherwise soulless politically correct denial and dishonesty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-so-wreak-of-logic-and-commonsense-that-it-is-obviously-very/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) [Browse all 546 Dishonesty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When someone says 'be honest' what they really mean is: lie to me, but be as convincing as possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-really-mean-is-lie-to-me-but-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dishonesty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-really-mean-is-lie-to-me-but-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/anonymous-1_dishonesty_when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-re_968545.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/anonymous-1_dishonesty_when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-re_968545.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/anonymous-1_dishonesty_when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-re_968545.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When someone says 'be honest' what they really mean is: lie to me, but be as convincing as possible.” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When someone says 'be honest' what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-really-mean-is-lie-to-me-but-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-says-be-honest-what-they-really-mean-is-lie-to-me-but-be/#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 } } ] } ```