Humor Quote by Dashiell Hammett
““Dorothy wants to talk to you. Don't ask her to eat with us." When Nora returned from the telephone she had a look in her eye. "Now what's up?" I asked. "Nothing. Just 'how are you' and all that." I said: "if you're lying to the old man, God'll punish you.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett, 1930
A character warns that lying to a superior invites divine retribution, highlighting moral accountability.
In simple terms: Lying to authority invites punishment.
Key Takeaway
Act honestly to avoid moral consequences.
Themes
morality
authority
consequences
trust
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
literary
ethical
When to use this quote
- workplace interactions
- family discussions
- legal testimony
- personal decisions
Key Concepts
ethical responsibility
spiritual belief
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you believe moral actions are self‑regulating?
- What are the real‑world consequences of dishonesty?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations of divine punishment vary.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
