--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dishonesty is all about the small acts we…" description: "\"Dishonesty is all about the small acts we can take and then think, 'No, this not real cheating.' So if you think that the main mechanism is rationaliza..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/dan-ariely-1899_about_dishonesty-is-all-about-the-small-acts-w_1254792.jpg" --- # Dishonesty is all about the small acts we can take and… ![“Dishonesty is all about the small acts we can take and then think, 'No, this not real cheating.' So if you think that the main mechanism is rationalization, then what you come up with, and that's what we find, is that we're basically trying to balance feeling good about ourselves.” quote by Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/dan-ariely-1899_about_dishonesty-is-all-about-the-small-acts-w_1254792.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/dan-ariely-1899_about_dishonesty-is-all-about-the-small-acts-w_1254792.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/dan-ariely-1899_about_dishonesty-is-all-about-the-small-acts-w_1254792.jpg) > “Dishonesty is all about the small acts we can take and then think, 'No, this not real cheating.' So if you think that the main mechanism is rationalization, then what you come up with, and that's what we find, is that we're basically trying to balance feeling good about ourselves.” [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People justify minor dishonest acts by minimizing their significance, using rationalization to protect self‑image. **In simple terms:** Small lies are rationalized. Key Takeaway Recognize and curb self‑justifying dishonesty. Themes ethics behavioral economics self‑deception Mood analytical critical Type psychological educational When to use this quote - workplace integrity - academic honesty - personal finance - consumer behavior Key Concepts cognitive bias moral licensing Questions to Reflect On - What small act have you justified? - How can you hold yourself accountable? A Different Perspective Rationalization can be a coping mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basically/) [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Cheating Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating-think-1307585/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Come up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-up/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Dishonesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty/) [Dishonesty Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty-small-3968605/) [Feel good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-good/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feeling good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-good/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main/) [Mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanism/) [Ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ourselves/) [Rationalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationalization/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small/) [Small acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-acts/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can quietly become a power no government can suppress, a power than can transform the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/small-acts-when-multiplied-by-millions-of-people-can-quietly-become-a/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [In athletics there's always been a willingness to cheat if it looks like you're not cheating. 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