--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honesty is a complex and tricky thing…" description: "\"Honesty is a complex and tricky thing, and we don't want to be honest all the time.\" — Dan Ariely" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_being-honest_honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-an_751975.png" --- # Honesty is a complex and tricky thing, and we don't want… ![“Honesty is a complex and tricky thing, and we don't want to be honest all the time.” quote by Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_being-honest_honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-an_751975.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_being-honest_honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-an_751975.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_being-honest_honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-an_751975.png) > “Honesty is a complex and tricky thing, and we don't want to be honest all the time.” [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. Honesty is nuanced; constant truth-telling can be socially costly and sometimes counterproductive. **In simple terms:** Being always honest can be harmful. Key Takeaway Balance truth with context. Themes ethics social dynamics communication Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace negotiations - political discourse Key Concepts behavioral economics psychology social norms Questions to Reflect On - When does honesty harm more than help? - How can we decide when to with? A Different Perspective All situations benefit from absolute honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be honest, and even if that's scary, I know it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emm-gryner/i-want-to-be-honest-and-even-if-that-s-scary-i-know-it-s-worth-it/) [Emm Gryner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emm-gryner/) > [“Do you like Rhiannon more than me?" ... They're two completely different concepts. When a girl asks you a question like that, there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/do-you-like-rhiannon-more-than-me-they-re-two-completely-different/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-desperately-difficult-it-is-to-be-honest-with-oneself-it-is-much-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As soon as me and Willow started releasing music, that’s one thing that the whole world took away is, okay, they unlocked another step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-smith/as-soon-as-me-and-willow-started-releasing-music-that-s-one-thing/) [Jaden Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-smith/) > [Being honest when you're dealing with others is easier to do because your honesty is on the table for all to view...Being honest with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/being-honest-when-you-re-dealing-with-others-is-easier-to-do-because/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [And what is true education? It is awakening a love for truth; giving a just sense of duty; opening the eyes of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/and-what-is-true-education-it-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-giving-a/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [You are honest enough by nature to be able to see and judge your own self clearly - and that is a great thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enid-blyton/you-are-honest-enough-by-nature-to-be-able-to-see-and-judge-your-own/) [Enid Blyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enid-blyton/) > [In the midst of all this turmoil and destruction, the Latter-day Saints should dwell in peace and safety. This they may do if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fielding-smith/in-the-midst-of-all-this-turmoil-and-destruction-the-latter-day/) [Joseph Fielding Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fielding-smith/) > [I want to be honest about my faith, but not preachy, for my viewers and my readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-earhardt/i-want-to-be-honest-about-my-faith-but-not-preachy-for-my-viewers-and/) [Ainsley Earhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-earhardt/) > [We want work and we want honest jobs. Our minds and our hands will be our keep!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-yushchenko/we-want-work-and-we-want-honest-jobs-our-minds-and-our-hands-will-be/) [Viktor Yushchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-yushchenko/) > [Do what I want, be honest to myself and then it would do good for others, that's all, full on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/do-what-i-want-be-honest-to-myself-and-then-it-would-do-good-for/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [Fuck perfect, I want honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djsovviet/fuck-perfect-i-want-honest/) Djsovviet > [If u want to be trusted be honest if you want to be honest be true if you want to be true be yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-u-want-to-be-trusted-be-honest-if-you-want-to-be-honest-be-true-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to lie. Always, I want to be honest and I say,I don't think about tomorrow. I don't think about next season.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-pochettino/i-don-t-want-to-lie-always-i-want-to-be-honest-and-i-say-i-don-t/) [Mauricio Pochettino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-pochettino/) > [I'm trying to honestly do what I want to do, in the most honest way, and not worry about the consequences, because what's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-louris/i-m-trying-to-honestly-do-what-i-want-to-do-in-the-most-honest-way/) [Gary Louris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-louris/) ## More by Dan Ariely > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [ “\[..\] we human beings are ready and willing to steal something that does not explicitly reference monetary value - that is, something that lacks… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/we-human-beings-are-ready-and-willing-to-steal-something-that-does/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“Contrafreeloading,” a term coined by the animal psychologist Glen Jensen, refers to the finding that many animals prefer to earn food rather than simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/contrafreeloading-a-term-coined-by-the-animal-psychologist-glen/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [One of the big lessons from behavioral economics is that we make decisions as a function of the environment that we're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/one-of-the-big-lessons-from-behavioral-economics-is-that-we-make/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Not all debt is bad. From time to time we should get into debt when there's a good reason for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/not-all-debt-is-bad-from-time-to-time-we-should-get-into-debt-when/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“This result suggests that cheating is not driven by concerns about standing out. Rather, it shows that our sense of our own morality is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/this-result-suggests-that-cheating-is-not-driven-by-concerns-about/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“ONE OF THE main differences between standard and behavioral economics involves this concept of “free lunches.” According to the assumptions of standard economics, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/one-of-the-main-differences-between-standard-and-behavioral-economics/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Money is all about opportunity cost. Every time you spend on something, that's something you can't spend on something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/money-is-all-about-opportunity-cost-every-time-you-spend-on-something/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [The people that lend you money basically give you an answer based on the risk that they are willing to take. But just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/the-people-that-lend-you-money-basically-give-you-an-answer-based-on/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“Upton Sinclair once noted, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/upton-sinclair-once-noted-it-is-difficult-to-get-a-man-to-understand/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [If you get people to feel that they are putting something, that they are creating it and so on, their love for the project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-get-people-to-feel-that-they-are-putting-something-that-they/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [If I gave you now, $10 as a gift, how happy would you be? Would you be happy, is the marginal $10, the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-i-gave-you-now-10-as-a-gift-how-happy-would-you-be-would-you-be/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Imagine you have six loans, small to huge. People want to close loans and because of that, they try to pay off the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/imagine-you-have-six-loans-small-to-huge-people-want-to-close-loans/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“he started by selling his Porsche Boxster and buying a Toyota Prius in its place.4 “I don’t want to live the life of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/he-started-by-selling-his-porsche-boxster-and-buying-a-toyota-prius/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) [Explore all 198 Dan Ariely quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) ## More Being honest quotes > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I think what saved me is me being honest. I think I somewhow had the courage to do something and say something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-what-saved-me-is-me-being-honest-i-think-i-somewhow-had-the/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [The cultural integration of psychedelics won't happen overnight, and the question of young people is perhaps the most difficult involved. The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/) [Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/) > [I'm a person of change and I must be honest to my artistry and my creativity. That's part of the word 'jazz'... it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-ferguson/i-m-a-person-of-change-and-i-must-be-honest-to-my-artistry-and-my/) Maynard Ferguson > [I'm going to be honest, I would love for Flava Flav to be president. It would bring a lot of excitement to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/i-m-going-to-be-honest-i-would-love-for-flava-flav-to-be-president-it/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [The buildings that were in question, they said in the same report, which was - actually, it wasn't even a bad story, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-buildings-that-were-in-question-they-said-in-the-same-report/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I guess it has to be healthy, you have to be honest with yourself and I think that's when ego is okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/i-guess-it-has-to-be-healthy-you-have-to-be-honest-with-yourself-and/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [ The opening for solid waste is very small \[in the space ship\]. It's not toilet-bowl size. And aim is critical. To be honest with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mullane/the-opening-for-solid-waste-is-very-small-in-the-space-ship-it-s-not/) [Mike Mullane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mullane/) > [We had 90 percent rates, but nobody paid them. And so you had all these exemptions, exclusions, shelters, all this kind of stuff. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-had-90-percent-rates-but-nobody-paid-them-and-so-you-had-all-these/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [I think, as a filmmaker, it's important to be honest with yourself at all times in terms of what's working and what's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-wingard/i-think-as-a-filmmaker-it-s-important-to-be-honest-with-yourself-at/) [Adam Wingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-wingard/) > [We live in a world in which the only utopian visions arrive in commercial breaks: magical visions of an impossibly hospitable world, peopled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-the-only-utopian-visions-arrive-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Browse all 1,333 Being honest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Honesty is a complex and tricky thing, and we don't want to be honest all the time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Ariely" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-and-we-don-t-want-to-be-honest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being honest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-and-we-don-t-want-to-be-honest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_being-honest_honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-an_751975.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_being-honest_honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-an_751975.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_being-honest_honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-an_751975.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Honesty is a complex and tricky thing, and we don't want to be honest all the time.” — Dan Ariely", "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": "Dan Ariely", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Honesty is a complex and tricky...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-and-we-don-t-want-to-be-honest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/honesty-is-a-complex-and-tricky-thing-and-we-don-t-want-to-be-honest/#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 } } ] } ```