--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We tell ourselves that we lie to protect…" description: "\"“We tell ourselves that we lie to protect others, but the self usually comes out looking damn good in the process.”\" — David Carr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/david-carr-24165_damn-good_we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect_443995.jpg" --- # We tell ourselves that we lie to protect others, but the… ![“We tell ourselves that we lie to protect others, but the self usually comes out looking damn good in the process.” quote by David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/david-carr-24165_damn-good_we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect_443995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/david-carr-24165_damn-good_we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect_443995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/david-carr-24165_damn-good_we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect_443995.jpg) > ““We tell ourselves that we lie to protect others, but the self usually comes out looking damn good in the process.”” [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People rationalize lying as protective, yet often benefit personally from deception. **In simple terms:** Lying to protect can profit the liar. Key Takeaway Examine motives behind deceit. Themes deception self‑interest morality Mood critical introspective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - politics - business negotiations Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we tell ourselves lies are noble? - What are the costs of self‑deception? A Different Perspective Justifications can hide selfish gain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [self-interest usually brings injustice with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/self-interest-usually-brings-injustice-with-it/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [“Be around people who bring out the best in you, not the worst. Connect with people who give you happiness, not misery. Protect your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/be-around-people-who-bring-out-the-best-in-you-not-the-worst-connect/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Follow your purpose.Never allow yourself to be victim of overconfidence or preconceived detrimental limitation of thoughts which tries to deter you.Your purpose should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/follow-your-purpose-never-allow-yourself-to-be-victim-of/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“Protect your self-esteem and self-confidence - it is your responsibility!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-o-brien/protect-your-self-esteem-and-self-confidence-it-is-your-responsibility/) [Mark O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-o-brien/) > [The odd thing, my dear," said her father, "is that once one has ceased trying to protect self, one finds one's self in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donita-k-paul/the-odd-thing-my-dear-said-her-father-is-that-once-one-has-ceased/) [Donita K. Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donita-k-paul/) > [Police are supposed to protect and serve, but sadly, they protect their self-interest first and foremost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seph-lawless/police-are-supposed-to-protect-and-serve-but-sadly-they-protect-their/) [Seph Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seph-lawless/) > [You must protect your own self being & let you dont become victim of negativity or whims of others. You must believe in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/you-must-protect-your-own-self-being-let-you-dont-become-victim-of/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [You cannot protect your self from sadness without protecting.yourself from happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-protect-your-self-from-sadness-without-protecting-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I may lie about things, yes I will admit to that, however some of the things I lie about are to protect the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/i-may-lie-about-things-yes-i-will-admit-to-that-however-some-of-the/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [“We lie to protect our children, and in lying we expose them to the greatest of harms”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/we-lie-to-protect-our-children-and-in-lying-we-expose-them-to-the/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [There are three types of lies One, a lie to protect yourself. Two, a lie to deceive someone else. Three, a lie to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-three-types-of-lies-one-a-lie-to-protect-yourself-two-a-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [~ Saying lies are not always a bad thing because sometimes you must lie to protect something which is almost at the verge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince/saying-lies-are-not-always-a-bad-thing-because-sometimes-you-must-lie/) [Vince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince/) > [All liars ... lie to protect themselves, to shield their egos from the raw pain of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aminatta-forna/all-liars-lie-to-protect-themselves-to-shield-their-egos-from-the-raw/) [Aminatta Forna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aminatta-forna/) > [“Is it okay to do something wrong if you're doing it to protect someone who deserves to be helped?" "That's an odd question Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-m-mcaloon/is-it-okay-to-do-something-wrong-if-you-re-doing-it-to-protect/) [Peggy M. McAloon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-m-mcaloon/) > [Sometimes we do things we shouldnt do, and say things we should say, but all in all we lie to protect our selves from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/sometimes-we-do-things-we-shouldnt-do-and-say-things-we-should-say/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) ## More by David Carr > [“This is the point where the knowing, irony-infused author laughs along with his readers about his time among the aphorisms, how he was once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/this-is-the-point-where-the-knowing-irony-infused-author-laughs-along/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“The trick of enjoying New York is not to be so busy grinding your way to the center of the earth that you fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/the-trick-of-enjoying-new-york-is-not-to-be-so-busy-grinding-your-way/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“There is no such thing as a social crack user.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-social-crack-user/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [Keep in mind that when public figures get in trouble for something they said, it is usually not because they misspoke, but because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/keep-in-mind-that-when-public-figures-get-in-trouble-for-something/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“As I sit today, I am a genuine, often pleasant person. I am able to imitate a human being for long spurts of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/as-i-sit-today-i-am-a-genuine-often-pleasant-person-i-am-able-to/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [We live in an age where there is a firehose of information, and there is no hierarchy of what is important and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/we-live-in-an-age-where-there-is-a-firehose-of-information-and-there/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“To the extent I am good at anything other than falling down, it is getting back up, at overcoming low expectations—many of them my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/to-the-extent-i-am-good-at-anything-other-than-falling-down-it-is/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“The eyes that saw too much because they did not close enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/the-eyes-that-saw-too-much-because-they-did-not-close-enough/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“But I've seen enough to know that we all carry a measure of guilt and innocence among us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/but-i-ve-seen-enough-to-know-that-we-all-carry-a-measure-of-guilt-and/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [ “\[C\]ivilians are equally bewildering to the addict. I've watched people drink a glass and a half of wine and push away the rest. What… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/c-ivilians-are-equally-bewildering-to-the-addict-i-ve-watched-people/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“No one is going to give a damn about your résumé; they want to see what you have made with your own little fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/no-one-is-going-to-give-a-damn-about-your-r-sum-they-want-to-see-what/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“...that explains everything and excuses nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/that-explains-everything-and-excuses-nothing/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“Memories are like that. They live between synapses and between the people who hold them. Memories, even epic ones, are perishable from their very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/memories-are-like-that-they-live-between-synapses-and-between-the/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [Being a good writer doesn’t make you a good reporter, it takes hustle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/being-a-good-writer-doesn-t-make-you-a-good-reporter-it-takes-hustle/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [“Necessity is a mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/necessity-is-a-mother/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) [Explore all 25 David Carr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) ## More Damn good quotes > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [“Writing is like a relationship. When it is good, it is damn good; when it is bad, you contemplate murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevea-lane/writing-is-like-a-relationship-when-it-is-good-it-is-damn-good-when/) Nevea Lane > [Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/learning-to-read-music-in-braille-and-play-by-ear-helped-me-develop-a/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [“There is no other way," she insisted. "Nothing else but to use you as bait? Madness!" "Don't make me say it." "Say what?" Wolf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-litton/there-is-no-other-way-she-insisted-nothing-else-but-to-use-you-as/) [Josie Litton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-litton/) > [Ana come on, I thought we had a damn good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/ana-come-on-i-thought-we-had-a-damn-good-thing/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [“I'm not usually good, but when i am, i'm goddamn good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-m-not-usually-good-but-when-i-am-i-m-goddamn-good/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Once you realize just the sort of glut of books that exists out there, it does become incumbent on you not to add to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/once-you-realize-just-the-sort-of-glut-of-books-that-exists-out-there/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [I've got a bottle and a girl who's fourteen and a damn good case of Mexicali Blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grateful-dead/i-ve-got-a-bottle-and-a-girl-who-s-fourteen-and-a-damn-good-case-of/) [Grateful Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grateful-dead/) > [I'm no genius, but I'm a damn good football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-m-no-genius-but-i-m-a-damn-good-football-coach/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I am quite happy that the Beatles came and went. There is even a sort of glory in not having it go on forever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-am-quite-happy-that-the-beatles-came-and-went-there-is-even-a-sort/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [“Green Day is like sex. When we good we're really good! When we're bad... we're still pretty damn good!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dirnt/green-day-is-like-sex-when-we-good-we-re-really-good-when-we-re-bad/) [Mike Dirnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dirnt/) > [“Have a story. And make sure it’s a good one. A DAMN good one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-macleod/have-a-story-and-make-sure-it-s-a-good-one-a-damn-good-one/) [Hugh MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-macleod/) > [“Why," he panted into Danny's neck, "why's it so goddamn good?" He was surprised at how full his voice sounded, so close to overflowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-mckinley/why-he-panted-into-danny-s-neck-why-s-it-so-goddamn-good-he-was/) [Brooke McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-mckinley/) > [You saw him standing out there, and you knew you had a pretty damn good chance to win the baseball game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-ruffing/you-saw-him-standing-out-there-and-you-knew-you-had-a-pretty-damn/) Red Ruffing > [As soon as we start putting our thoughts into words and sentences everything gets distorted, language is just no damn good—I use it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/as-soon-as-we-start-putting-our-thoughts-into-words-and-sentences/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) Browse all 275 Damn good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We tell ourselves that we lie to protect others, but the self usually comes out looking damn good in the process.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Carr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect-others-but-the-self-usually/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Damn good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect-others-but-the-self-usually/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/david-carr-24165_damn-good_we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect_443995.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/david-carr-24165_damn-good_we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect_443995.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/david-carr-24165_damn-good_we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect_443995.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We tell ourselves that we lie to protect others, but the self usually comes out looking damn good in the…” — David Carr", "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": "David Carr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We tell ourselves that we lie...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect-others-but-the-self-usually/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/we-tell-ourselves-that-we-lie-to-protect-others-but-the-self-usually/#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 } } ] } ```