--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are worse things than a lie... I…" description: "\"There are worse things than a lie... I have found... that it may be well to choose one sin in order that another may be shunned.\" — Anthony Trollope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/anthony-trollope-611_choose_there-are-worse-things-than-a-lie-i-have_2450222.jpg" --- # There are worse things than a lie... I have found... that… ![“There are worse things than a lie... I have found... that it may be well to choose one sin in order that another may be shunned.” quote by Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/anthony-trollope-611_choose_there-are-worse-things-than-a-lie-i-have_2450222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/anthony-trollope-611_choose_there-are-worse-things-than-a-lie-i-have_2450222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/anthony-trollope-611_choose_there-are-worse-things-than-a-lie-i-have_2450222.jpg) > “There are worse things than a lie... I have found... that it may be well to choose one sin in order that another may be shunned.” [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a lesser fault to prevent a greater one reflects pragmatic morality. **In simple terms:** Choosing a small sin to avoid a bigger one. Key Takeaway Accept small compromises to prevent larger harms. Themes ethics pragmatism morality Mood reflective thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - policy making - conflict resolution Key Concepts consequentialism moral calculus Questions to Reflect On - Is a small compromise always justified? - How to balance integrity with practicality? A Different Perspective May encourage rationalizing harmful choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [“Sin, sin! To rid myself of boredom by committing a crime, to break up monotony by deceiving. To sin in order to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-barbusse/sin-sin-to-rid-myself-of-boredom-by-committing-a-crime-to-break-up/) [Henri Barbusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-barbusse/) > [You choose sin. You practice sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/you-choose-sin-you-practice-sin/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? Romans 6:1”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/what-should-we-say-then-should-we-continue-in-sin-in-order-that-grace/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Therefore, be honest with yourself as to why you are choosing to do a particular thing. Then, do it gladly, knowing that you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/therefore-be-honest-with-yourself-as-to-why-you-are-choosing-to-do-a/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“As I see, 90%+ (and not less than that) of people go about their lives living 90%+ (and not less) of a lie. choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mphezulu-xetho-dainamyk/as-i-see-90-and-not-less-than-that-of-people-go-about-their-lives/) Mphezulu Xetho Dainamyk > [Given a choice between life and death, choose life. Given a choice between right and wrong, choose what's right. And given a choice between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/given-a-choice-between-life-and-death-choose-life-given-a-choice/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Truth is the object of our understanding, as good is of our will; and the understanding can no more be delighted with a lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/truth-is-the-object-of-our-understanding-as-good-is-of-our-will-and/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Are you very much aware of the spiritual battle raging within you? Do you realize that to have true relationship with God, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/are-you-very-much-aware-of-the-spiritual-battle-raging-within-you-do/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“Kings can choose other than to sin. They can choose death instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-giardina/kings-can-choose-other-than-to-sin-they-can-choose-death-instead/) [Denise Giardina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-giardina/) > [The truth is evident. There is no freedom but instead bondage and control in rebellion. It is the opening of the soul to demonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/the-truth-is-evident-there-is-no-freedom-but-instead-bondage-and/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [To the predators... Weinstein, the stranger, the relative, the boyfriend... I say to you, 'You can choose your sin but you don't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/to-the-predators-weinstein-the-stranger-the-relative-the-boyfriend-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [“Quotations (3) "If you knew you had no place in the lord’s kingdom, no penance to pay…would you still choose to sin?" - Frieda,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-scar/quotations-3-if-you-knew-you-had-no-place-in-the-lord-s-kingdom-no/) L.J. Scar > [When you choose sin the baggage that comes with it is error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/when-you-choose-sin-the-baggage-that-comes-with-it-is-error/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [Remember, you may choose your sin, but you cannot chose the consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-sanford/remember-you-may-choose-your-sin-but-you-cannot-chose-the-consequences/) [Jenny Sanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-sanford/) > [“If you knew you had no place in the lord’s kingdom, no penance to pay…would you still choose to sin?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-scar/if-you-knew-you-had-no-place-in-the-lord-s-kingdom-no-penance-to-pay/) L.J. Scar ## More by Anthony Trollope > [“I have from the first felt sure that the writer, when he sits down to commence his novel, should do so, not because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/i-have-from-the-first-felt-sure-that-the-writer-when-he-sits-down-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Things to be done offer themselves, I suppose, because they are in themselves desirable; not because it is desirable to have something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/things-to-be-done-offer-themselves-i-suppose-because-they-are-in/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/a-small-daily-task-if-it-be-really-daily-will-beat-the-labours-of-a/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [You men find so many angels in your travels. You have been honester than some. You have generally been off with the old angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/you-men-find-so-many-angels-in-your-travels-you-have-been-honester/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [The man who worships mere wealth is a snob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-man-who-worships-mere-wealth-is-a-snob/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [To feel that your hours are filled to overflowing, that you can barely steal minutes enough for sleep, that the welfare of many is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/to-feel-that-your-hours-are-filled-to-overflowing-that-you-can-barely/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [It is necessary to get a lot of men together, for the show of the thing, otherwise the world will not believe. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-is-necessary-to-get-a-lot-of-men-together-for-the-show-of-the/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“An accepted lover, who deserves to have been accepted, should devote every hour at his command to his mistress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/an-accepted-lover-who-deserves-to-have-been-accepted-should-devote/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Wine is valued by its price, not its flavour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/wine-is-valued-by-its-price-not-its-flavour/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“(On Charles Dickens) It has been the peculiarity and the marvel of this man’s power, that he has invested his puppets with a charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/on-charles-dickens-it-has-been-the-peculiarity-and-the-marvel-of-this/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [There is no road to wealth so easy and respectable as that of matrimony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/there-is-no-road-to-wealth-so-easy-and-respectable-as-that-of/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [I hold that gentleman to be the best-dressed whose dress no one observes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/i-hold-that-gentleman-to-be-the-best-dressed-whose-dress-no-one/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [But mad people never die. That's a well-known fact. They've nothing to trouble them, and they live for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/but-mad-people-never-die-that-s-a-well-known-fact-they-ve-nothing-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Since woman's rights have come up a young woman is better able to fight her own battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/since-woman-s-rights-have-come-up-a-young-woman-is-better-able-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“The heroes of life are so much better than the heroes of romance,” said Caroline.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-heroes-of-life-are-so-much-better-than-the-heroes-of-romance-said/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) [Explore all 448 Anthony Trollope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) ## More Choose quotes > [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/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [If somebody asks me to choose a biopic, it would be Narain Karthikeyan because I love racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/if-somebody-asks-me-to-choose-a-biopic-it-would-be-narain-karthikeyan/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...so you gotta choose who is good for you! Be wise, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-so-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not opposed - we manufacture a lot of socks in North Carolina - I just choose not to wear them. It's a Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-m-not-opposed-we-manufacture-a-lot-of-socks-in-north-carolina-i/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Having too many options is bad. I want one person, just one. Not a whole bunch to choose from,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderickthefirst/having-too-many-options-is-bad-i-want-one-person-just-one-not-a-whole/) RoderickTheFirst > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) Browse all 3,851 Choose quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are worse things than a lie... 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