--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In general, generalization is to lie, to…" description: "\"In general, generalization is to lie, to tell lies.\" — B.S. Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/b-s-johnson-111123_generalization_in-general-generalization-is-to-lie-to-t_675991.jpg" --- # In general, generalization is to lie, to tell lies. ![“In general, generalization is to lie, to tell lies.” quote by B.S. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/b-s-johnson-111123_generalization_in-general-generalization-is-to-lie-to-t_675991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/b-s-johnson-111123_generalization_in-general-generalization-is-to-lie-to-t_675991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/b-s-johnson-111123_generalization_in-general-generalization-is-to-lie-to-t_675991.jpg) > “In general, generalization is to lie, to tell lies.” B.S. Johnson ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Generalization oversimplifies reality, turning nuanced truth into falsehood. **In simple terms:** Generalizing is lying. Key Takeaway Avoid over‑generalizing. Themes truth logic communication philosophy critical thinking Mood analytical critical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - academic writing - public speaking - media analysis Key Concepts categorization accuracy bias Questions to Reflect On - When is a generalization useful? - How to balance simplicity and truth? A Different Perspective Complexity sometimes demands categories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generalization/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [If you tell a lie, tell a big one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/if-you-tell-a-lie-tell-a-big-one/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) > [ \[On Richard M. Nixon:\] Americans began with a president who couldn't tell a lie and now they have one who can't tell the truth. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benazir-bhutto/on-richard-m-nixon-americans-began-with-a-president-who-couldn-t-tell/) [Benazir Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benazir-bhutto/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Don't lie,Tell one lie,then you gotta tell another lie to compound on the first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meyer-lansky/don-t-lie-tell-one-lie-then-you-gotta-tell-another-lie-to-compound-on/) [Meyer Lansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meyer-lansky/) > [People lie and they tell you what you want to hear. That's how you end up falling in love with the person you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-zhims/people-lie-and-they-tell-you-what-you-want-to-hear-that-s-how-you-end/) [Keren Zhims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-zhims/) > [If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-tell-a-big-enough-lie-and-tell-it-frequently-enough-it-will-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It was one lesson that she could not bring herself to learn. If someone was going to tell a lie, they would tell it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-r-lallo/it-was-one-lesson-that-she-could-not-bring-herself-to-learn-if/) [Joseph R. Lallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-r-lallo/) > [“Kate stared, her expression carved in ice. And then she came close, close enough for him to see the glint of silver through her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/kate-stared-her-expression-carved-in-ice-and-then-she-came-close/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [The biggest lie I tell.. still gets mistaken for the truth..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lostintears/the-biggest-lie-i-tell-still-gets-mistaken-for-the-truth/) LostInTears > [“Sometimes it helps to lie. You tell yourself a story, even if you don't know the ending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mayhew-bergman/sometimes-it-helps-to-lie-you-tell-yourself-a-story-even-if-you-don-t/) [Megan Mayhew Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mayhew-bergman/) > [“I have so much to tell you,” he whispered against her face. “And not enough time.” “We have nothing but time now,” she said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suanne-laqueur/i-have-so-much-to-tell-you-he-whispered-against-her-face-and-not/) [Suanne Laqueur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suanne-laqueur/) > [“Never tell a lie when you can tell the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/never-tell-a-lie-when-you-can-tell-the-truth/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Don't tell me you love me when you really don't. Don't lie when you should tell me the truth. Don't hug me if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknowm/don-t-tell-me-you-love-me-when-you-really-don-t-don-t-lie-when-you/) Unknowm > [The most damaging lie and we can tell ourselves involves make a promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayte/the-most-damaging-lie-and-we-can-tell-ourselves-involves-make-a/) [Mayte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayte/) > [Could you not lie and tell me you care about me. Thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi/could-you-not-lie-and-tell-me-you-care-about-me-thanks/) [Jessi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi/) ## More by B.S. Johnson > [“Not how he died, not what he died of, even less why he died, are of concern, to me, only the fact that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-johnson/not-how-he-died-not-what-he-died-of-even-less-why-he-died-are-of/) B.S. Johnson Explore all 2 B.S. Johnson quotes ## More Generalization quotes > [As the generalization goes about the art industry, people can be really challenging and thought-provoking in their thinking and questioning the status quo, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-cole/as-the-generalization-goes-about-the-art-industry-people-can-be/) [Lily Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-cole/) > [I think it's very difficult to make any single, generalized statements about the press, of course the press is such varied character and quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-millis/i-think-it-s-very-difficult-to-make-any-single-generalized-statements/) [Walter Millis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-millis/) > [“I am not trying to make a point by telling stories. Chosen examples are never serious evidence for any worthwhile generalization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-am-not-trying-to-make-a-point-by-telling-stories-chosen-examples/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [God is our name for the last generalization to which we can arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/god-is-our-name-for-the-last-generalization-to-which-we-can-arrive/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [So the English approach to show business and their work is more - and this is a big generalization, I hasten to say -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mcgovern/so-the-english-approach-to-show-business-and-their-work-is-more-and/) [Elizabeth McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mcgovern/) > [In a novella, a whole lot of crap can happen, and you can build momentum and suspense and leave room for a surprise or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/in-a-novella-a-whole-lot-of-crap-can-happen-and-you-can-build/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Everyone in America (according to my generalizations) is a potential millionaire waiting for his or her big break. I was astonished lately to realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/everyone-in-america-according-to-my-generalizations-is-a-potential/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [During the first half of the present century we had an Alexander von Humboldt, who was able to scan the scientific knowledge of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-von-helmholtz/during-the-first-half-of-the-present-century-we-had-an-alexander-von/) [Hermann von Helmholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-von-helmholtz/) > [I only know from my own personal experience, and I personally feel that there's a cyclical nature to things, so you don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-jones/i-only-know-from-my-own-personal-experience-and-i-personally-feel/) [Jeffrey Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-jones/) > [All generalizations are inaccurate, including this one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/all-generalizations-are-inaccurate-including-this-one/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [If it is to be effective as a tool of thought, a notation must allow convenient expression not only of notions arising directly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-iverson/if-it-is-to-be-effective-as-a-tool-of-thought-a-notation-must-allow/) [Kenneth E. Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-iverson/) > [Writing about race and crime was not new territory for me. But it can be treacherous. So here are my rules: No stereotypes. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-flaherty/writing-about-race-and-crime-was-not-new-territory-for-me-but-it-can/) [Colin Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-flaherty/) > [I think women are really good at making friends and not good at networking. Men are good at networking and not necessarily making friends.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-think-women-are-really-good-at-making-friends-and-not-good-at/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Data without generalization is just gossip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/data-without-generalization-is-just-gossip/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If I can make a generalization, men get into politics because, from the time they're little boys, they've been wanting to be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/if-i-can-make-a-generalization-men-get-into-politics-because-from-the/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) [Browse all 152 Generalization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generalization/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In general, generalization is to lie, to tell lies.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B.S. 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