--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Telling the truth to people who…" description: "\"Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is generally promoting a falsehood, isn't it?\" — Anthony Hope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/anthony-hope-26203_falsehood_telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunder_2664663.png" --- # Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is… ![“Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is generally promoting a falsehood, isn't it?” quote by Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/anthony-hope-26203_falsehood_telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunder_2664663.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/anthony-hope-26203_falsehood_telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunder_2664663.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/anthony-hope-26203_falsehood_telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunder_2664663.png) > “Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is generally promoting a falsehood, isn't it?” [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When you explain yourself to those who misinterpret, you may spread misinformation. **In simple terms:** Explaining to the misunderstood can create falsehoods. Key Takeaway Choose audience wisely before clarifying. Themes communication misunderstanding truth Mood cautious thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - media statements Key Concepts rhetoric cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to stay silent? - How can you ensure clarity without distortion? A Different Perspective Sometimes silence is better than miscommunication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Misunderstand Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstand-generally-2454832/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Misunderstand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-misunderstand-571391/) [Promoting Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promoting-falsehood-2454831/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Telling truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/it-is-better-to-be-divided-by-truth-than-to-be-united-in-error-it-is/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [“Telling the truth to yourself is Integrity; Telling the truth to others is Honesty; Telling the truth with no fear or intimidation is Bravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/telling-the-truth-to-yourself-is-integrity-telling-the-truth-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [He tells so many lies that he convinces himself after a while that he's telling the truth. He just doesn't recognize truth or falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/he-tells-so-many-lies-that-he-convinces-himself-after-a-while-that-he/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [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/) > [I know the words that I say are bad and can hurt you but its just me telling the truth if you don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shar-rae/i-know-the-words-that-i-say-are-bad-and-can-hurt-you-but-its-just-me/) [Shar-rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shar-rae/) > [If I'm not getting played on the radio and I'm not making any money, I have nothing to lose by telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-pickett/if-i-m-not-getting-played-on-the-radio-and-i-m-not-making-any-money-i/) [Wilson Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-pickett/) > [As an actor, you want to know if you're keeping a secret or telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/as-an-actor-you-want-to-know-if-you-re-keeping-a-secret-or-telling/) [Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/) > [Start telling the truth now and never stop. Begin by telling the truth to yourself about yourself. Then tell the truth to yourself about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/start-telling-the-truth-now-and-never-stop-begin-by-telling-the-truth/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“He wrote: ‘We make ourselves real by telling the truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-durham/he-wrote-we-make-ourselves-real-by-telling-the-truth/) [Geoffrey Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-durham/) > [I'm quite a good reader of people; I like to meet people, and I can tell if they're lying or not, and I've certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/i-m-quite-a-good-reader-of-people-i-like-to-meet-people-and-i-can/) [Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/) > [I don't think telling the truth ever gets anyone in trouble in the long run. Maybe the day after, but not in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-don-t-think-telling-the-truth-ever-gets-anyone-in-trouble-in-the/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [“Publicly telling the truth on social media can be one of the most effective healing journeys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/publicly-telling-the-truth-on-social-media-can-be-one-of-the-most/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-musto/in-the-last-few-years-the-very-idea-of-telling-the-truth-the-whole/) [Michael Musto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-musto/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realize God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-must-be-very-particular-about-telling-the-truth-through-truth-one/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) ## More by Anthony Hope > [In the deep, unwritten wisdom of life there are many things to be learned that cannot be taught. We never know them by hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/in-the-deep-unwritten-wisdom-of-life-there-are-many-things-to-be/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [I have an income nearly sufficient for my wants (no one's income is ever quite sufficient, you know).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/i-have-an-income-nearly-sufficient-for-my-wants-no-one-s-income-is/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [Somehow love gives even to a dull man the knowledge of his lover's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/somehow-love-gives-even-to-a-dull-man-the-knowledge-of-his-lover-s/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [“But if it be never - if I can never hold sweet converse again with her, or look upon her face, or know from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/but-if-it-be-never-if-i-can-never-hold-sweet-converse-again-with-her/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [I wish you would read a little poetry sometimes. Your ignorance cramps my conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/i-wish-you-would-read-a-little-poetry-sometimes-your-ignorance-cramps/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [You oughtn't to yield to temptation. Well, somebody must, or the thing becomes absurd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/you-oughtn-t-to-yield-to-temptation-well-somebody-must-or-the-thing/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [Economy is going without something you do want in case you should, some day, want something you probably won't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/economy-is-going-without-something-you-do-want-in-case-you-should/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [“Ah! but a man cannot be held to write down in cold blood the wild and black thoughts that storm his brain when an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/ah-but-a-man-cannot-be-held-to-write-down-in-cold-blood-the-wild-and/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [“It is my belief that, given the necessary physical likeness, it was far easier to pretend to be king of Ruritania than it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/it-is-my-belief-that-given-the-necessary-physical-likeness-it-was-far/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [“Yet, unless he sets up as a saint, he need not hate himself for them. He is better employed, as it humbly seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/yet-unless-he-sets-up-as-a-saint-he-need-not-hate-himself-for-them-he/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [Unless you are a genius, it is best to aim at being intelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/unless-you-are-a-genius-it-is-best-to-aim-at-being-intelligible/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [Unless one is a genius, it is best to aim at being intelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/unless-one-is-a-genius-it-is-best-to-aim-at-being-intelligible/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [“God save the King!" Old Sapt's mouth wrinkled into a smile. "God save 'em both!" he whispered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/god-save-the-king-old-sapt-s-mouth-wrinkled-into-a-smile-god-save-em/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [Good families are generally worse than any others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/good-families-are-generally-worse-than-any-others/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) > [I may not understand, but I am willing to admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/i-may-not-understand-but-i-am-willing-to-admire/) [Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) [Explore all 22 Anthony Hope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/) ## More Falsehood quotes > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [falsehood is not more unjustifiable than unsafe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/falsehood-is-not-more-unjustifiable-than-unsafe/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [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/) > [Tangible language, which often tells more falsehoods than truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tangible-language-which-often-tells-more-falsehoods-than-truths/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Whether statistics be an art or a science... or a scientific art, we concern ourselves little. It is the basis of social and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-quetelet/whether-statistics-be-an-art-or-a-science-or-a-scientific-art-we/) [Adolphe Quetelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-quetelet/) > [Falsehood, like the dry-rot, flourishes the more in proportion as air and light are excluded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/falsehood-like-the-dry-rot-flourishes-the-more-in-proportion-as-air/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [“God is not as a man.” He thus shows that all men are indeed guilty of falsehood, inasmuch as they change from one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/god-is-not-as-a-man-he-thus-shows-that-all-men-are-indeed-guilty-of/) [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) > [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-do-not-know-the-bible-well-have-been-gulled-into-thinking/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [One of the reasons, surely, why women have been credited with less perfect veracity than men is that the burden of conventional falsehood falls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-reasons-surely-why-women-have-been-credited-with-less/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He had the unlucky capacity many men have of seeing and believing in the possibility of goodness and truth, but of seeing the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-had-the-unlucky-capacity-many-men-have-of-seeing-and-believing-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Browse all 724 Falsehood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is generally promoting a falsehood, isn't it?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony Hope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunderstand-you-is-generally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Falsehood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunderstand-you-is-generally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/anthony-hope-26203_falsehood_telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunder_2664663.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/anthony-hope-26203_falsehood_telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunder_2664663.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/anthony-hope-26203_falsehood_telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunder_2664663.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is generally promoting a falsehood, isn't it?” — Anthony Hope", "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": "Anthony Hope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Telling the truth to people who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunderstand-you-is-generally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/telling-the-truth-to-people-who-misunderstand-you-is-generally/#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 } } ] } ```