Lying Quote by David Foster Wallace
“So which is the lie? Hard or soft? Silence or time?”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Weasel and the Human Being," in Consider the Lobster, 2005
The paradox of truth lies in choosing between harsh honesty and comforting falsehood, each with its own cost.
In simple terms: Choosing truth can be painful; lies can be soothing.
Key Takeaway
Weigh honesty against comfort.
Themes
truth
ethics
paradox
Mood
introspective
critical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- political discourse
- media consumption
- self‑deception
Key Concepts
Epistemology
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a lie justified?
- What are the costs of truth?
A Different Perspective
Hard truths may damage relationships; lies can erode trust.
![“How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and [how] hard it is to undo that work again!” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9b7/mark-twain-22_atheist_how-easy-it-is-to-make-people-believe-a_2857172.jpg)
![“[Islam] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left for Muslims lies in their observance of the God-made law.” quote by Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/704/abul-a-la-maududi-51903_function_islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislatio_886.jpg)
![“The social [media channel] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection, and community. That's what there's too little of in today's mediascape, despite all the hoopla surrounding social tools. The promise…” quote by Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c85/umair-haque-25881_beauty_the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-bea_1270.jpg)