--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're going to lie, at least be good…" description: "\"If you're going to lie, at least be good at it.\" — Behdad Sami" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/behdad-sami-7649_be-good_if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good_1201863.jpg" --- # If you're going to lie, at least be good at it. ![“If you're going to lie, at least be good at it.” quote by Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/behdad-sami-7649_be-good_if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good_1201863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/behdad-sami-7649_be-good_if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good_1201863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/behdad-sami-7649_be-good_if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good_1201863.jpg) > “If you're going to lie, at least be good at it.” [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deceit is a skill; if one must lie, they should do it convincingly. **In simple terms:** Lying well if you must lie Key Takeaway Avoid lying, but if unavoidable, be proficient Themes ethics deception skill Mood cautious critical Type ethical advice When to use this quote - Negotiations - political speech - personal relationships - legal testimony Key Concepts Moral philosophy psychology of lying Questions to Reflect On - Is it ever justified to lie? - What are the costs of habitual deception? A Different Perspective Lying erodes trust and can have severe consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-lie/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lie Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-good-324683/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm not going to lie: there are no good options here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-lanzing/i-m-not-going-to-lie-there-are-no-good-options-here/) [Jackson Lanzing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-lanzing/) > [Even a liar tells a hundred truths to one lie; he has to, to make the lie good for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/even-a-liar-tells-a-hundred-truths-to-one-lie-he-has-to-to-make-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“I’m good,” I lie. I’ve learned that lying when my well-being is concerned is easier than trying to navigate the truth. Nobody wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-holden/i-m-good-i-lie-i-ve-learned-that-lying-when-my-well-being-is/) [Kim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-holden/) > [“One ought always to lie, when one can do good by it;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-ought-always-to-lie-when-one-can-do-good-by-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [We have oft lamented the cancellation of 'Body of Proof,' I'm not gonna lie. That was a good show for us, and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-dungey/we-have-oft-lamented-the-cancellation-of-body-of-proof-i-m-not-gonna/) [Channing Dungey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-dungey/) > [Honestly, I'm not going to lie. I was a good kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-thee-stallion/honestly-i-m-not-going-to-lie-i-was-a-good-kid/) [Megan Thee Stallion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-thee-stallion/) > [Once you lie to me good luck trying to believe any word that comes out of your mouth ever again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-you-lie-to-me-good-luck-trying-to-believe-any-word-that-comes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my work, 80 per cent of the time people cheat, they run away with money, they lie but there are good things too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-murty/in-my-work-80-per-cent-of-the-time-people-cheat-they-run-away-with/) [Sudha Murty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-murty/) > [“I you tell a lie, you have to tell ten more to keep it alive. A story is just a lie with a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-kwa/i-you-tell-a-lie-you-have-to-tell-ten-more-to-keep-it-alive-a-story/) [Kelvin Kwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-kwa/) > [A thousand fools believe a lie, and it's good as truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-slonczewski/a-thousand-fools-believe-a-lie-and-it-s-good-as-truth/) [Joan Slonczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-slonczewski/) > [You might hold an ethical position that it's wrong to lie, but if you have plans for a war in Iraq, and you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/you-might-hold-an-ethical-position-that-it-s-wrong-to-lie-but-if-you/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“There is a lie that acts like a virus within the mind of humanity. And that lie is, ‘There’s not enough good to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/there-is-a-lie-that-acts-like-a-virus-within-the-mind-of-humanity-and/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [It's bad when you start the day off with a lie. It's NOT a good morning and Id rather be under my blanket still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-hill/it-s-bad-when-you-start-the-day-off-with-a-lie-it-s-not-a-good/) [Nicole Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-hill/) > [“But the lie had to be a good one, because if your lie is badly done it makes everyone feel wretched, liar and lied-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/but-the-lie-had-to-be-a-good-one-because-if-your-lie-is-badly-done-it/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [Dear mom and dad, when I lie to you, it's for your own good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/dear-mom-and-dad-when-i-lie-to-you-it-s-for-your-own-good/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## More by Behdad Sami > [When I go to sleep, someone wakes up to get their hustle on, that's why I get my 2 hours, their 2 hours and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/when-i-go-to-sleep-someone-wakes-up-to-get-their-hustle-on-that-s-why/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [My ambitions have ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/my-ambitions-have-ambitions/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [Set your expectations and goals so high that people think they're impossible, that's when you know you set them too low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/set-your-expectations-and-goals-so-high-that-people-think-they-re/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [If all you do is talk crap, I'll just flush the toilet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/if-all-you-do-is-talk-crap-i-ll-just-flush-the-toilet/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [It's funny, 99% of the time, haters and the 1 they hate on have everything in common and could be best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/it-s-funny-99-of-the-time-haters-and-the-1-they-hate-on-have/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [Opportunity doesn't knock on my door, I go and break its door down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/opportunity-doesn-t-knock-on-my-door-i-go-and-break-its-door-down/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes you won't be on the beneficial end of it but either way it's a blessing in disguise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/everything-happens-for-a-reason-sometimes-you-won-t-be-on-the/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [They say God laughs when you make plans, that's why I make appointments and sometimes reschedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/they-say-god-laughs-when-you-make-plans-that-s-why-i-make/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [Living in fear is what every hater, negative person, and the devil wants. Live a righteous life with God and nothing but positivity. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/living-in-fear-is-what-every-hater-negative-person-and-the-devil/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [They say if it's too good to be true, it usually is… Unless it's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/they-say-if-it-s-too-good-to-be-true-it-usually-is-unless-it-s-me/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [Failing is not real, it's an optional state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/failing-is-not-real-it-s-an-optional-state-of-mind/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [The more I accomplish the more I realize how empty my life is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/the-more-i-accomplish-the-more-i-realize-how-empty-my-life-is/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [I never had a plan B. I feel if u have a plan B, you are giving yourself the chance to never accomplish plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/i-never-had-a-plan-b-i-feel-if-u-have-a-plan-b-you-are-giving/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [It's impossible to give it all you got and fail unless you fail to give it all you got to do the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/it-s-impossible-to-give-it-all-you-got-and-fail-unless-you-fail-to/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [I would rather be on a roller coaster life going through hell and back to appreciate the glory instead of having it all at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/i-would-rather-be-on-a-roller-coaster-life-going-through-hell-and/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) [Explore all 89 Behdad Sami quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) ## More Be good quotes > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [The producers felt that 24 would be good for the audience, to really get to know who these 12 and 12 are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/the-producers-felt-that-24-would-be-good-for-the-audience-to-really/) [Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) [Randy Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-anderson/) > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. 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Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) [Browse all 1,747 Be good quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're going to lie, at least be good at it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Behdad Sami" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good-at-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good-at-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/behdad-sami-7649_be-good_if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good_1201863.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/behdad-sami-7649_be-good_if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good_1201863.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/behdad-sami-7649_be-good_if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good_1201863.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're going to lie, at least be good at it.” — Behdad Sami", "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": "Behdad Sami", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're going to lie, at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good-at-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/if-you-re-going-to-lie-at-least-be-good-at-it/#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 } } ] } ```