--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t tell lies, or even exaggerate. At…" description: "\"“Don’t tell lies, or even exaggerate. At all. Ever. 3.”\" — David H. Maister" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/david-h-maister-19663_exaggerate_don-t-tell-lies-or-even-exaggerate-at-al_2422303.jpg" --- # Don’t tell lies, or even exaggerate. At all. Ever. 3. ![“Don’t tell lies, or even exaggerate. At all. Ever. 3.” quote by David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/david-h-maister-19663_exaggerate_don-t-tell-lies-or-even-exaggerate-at-al_2422303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/david-h-maister-19663_exaggerate_don-t-tell-lies-or-even-exaggerate-at-al_2422303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/david-h-maister-19663_exaggerate_don-t-tell-lies-or-even-exaggerate-at-al_2422303.jpg) > ““Don’t tell lies, or even exaggerate. At all. Ever. 3.”” [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author advises absolute honesty, warning against any lies or exaggerations, emphasizing integrity in communication. **In simple terms:** Never lie or exaggerate. Key Takeaway Maintain strict honesty. Themes integrity communication ethics trust building professional conduct Mood serious cautious Type ethical advisory When to use this quote - client meetings - public statements - written reports Key Concepts ethical standards truthfulness reputation management Questions to Reflect On - When is full transparency essential? - How to balance honesty with diplomacy? A Different Perspective May be unrealistic in all contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) ## Related quotes > [I don't tell lies. I don't need to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/i-don-t-tell-lies-i-don-t-need-to/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [Never write an advertisement which you wouldn't want your own family to read. You wouldn't tell lies to your own wife. Don't tell them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/never-write-an-advertisement-which-you-wouldn-t-want-your-own-family-2/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Never write an advertisement which you wouldn't want your own family to read. You wouldn't tell lies to your own wife. Don't tell them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/never-write-an-advertisement-which-you-wouldn-t-want-your-own-family/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [“If I told you I don’t tell lies, that itself would be a lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-i-told-you-i-don-t-tell-lies-that-itself-would-be-a-lie/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Never write an advertisement which you wouldn't want your family to read. You wouldn't tell lies to your own wife. Don't tell them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/never-write-an-advertisement-which-you-wouldn-t-want-your-family-to/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [“I never tell you lies, imp. But sometimes I don’t tell everybody all the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/i-never-tell-you-lies-imp-but-sometimes-i-don-t-tell-everybody-all/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [The press is the hired agent of a monied system, and set up for no other purpose than to tell lies where their interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-press-is-the-hired-agent-of-a-monied-system-and-set-up-for-no/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“It is almost better to tell your own lies than somebody else's truth; in the first case you are a man, in the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/it-is-almost-better-to-tell-your-own-lies-than-somebody-else-s-truth/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/we-tell-lies-when-we-are-afraid-afraid-of-what-we-don-t-know-afraid/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [Read about the history of the place that we live in and stop letting corporate news tell lies to your children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/read-about-the-history-of-the-place-that-we-live-in-and-stop-letting/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [Don't ask me anything, and I won't tell you any lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/don-t-ask-me-anything-and-i-won-t-tell-you-any-lies/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [You come here to tell us lies, but we don't want to hear them. If we told you more, you would have paid no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitting-bull/you-come-here-to-tell-us-lies-but-we-don-t-want-to-hear-them-if-we/) [Sitting Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitting-bull/) > [Better is to speak unpleasant truth than to tell lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/better-is-to-speak-unpleasant-truth-than-to-tell-lies/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I never knew a man could tell so many lies, he had a different story for every set of eyes. How can he remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-never-knew-a-man-could-tell-so-many-lies-he-had-a-different-story/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More by David H. Maister > [“Advisors who rate the highest on reliability will not just deliver their work on time and on spec. Nor will they simply be consistent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/advisors-who-rate-the-highest-on-reliability-will-not-just-deliver/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“Make sure you’ve done absolutely all your homework on the client company, the client marketplace, and the client individual, and that it’s absolutely up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/make-sure-you-ve-done-absolutely-all-your-homework-on-the-client/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“Speak with expression, not monotonically. Use body language, eye contact, and vocal range. Show the client you have energy around the subject at hand. 5.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/speak-with-expression-not-monotonically-use-body-language-eye-contact/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“A good rule to remember is that, in relationships, there are no win-lose or lose-win combinations: There are only win-wins and lose-loses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/a-good-rule-to-remember-is-that-in-relationships-there-are-no-win/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“Fig. 8.2. Trust Realms The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/fig-8-2-trust-realms-the/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“Review agendas with your client, before meetings, before phone calls, before discussions. Clients should know that they can expect you to always solicit their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/review-agendas-with-your-client-before-meetings-before-phone-calls/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“The attitude of exclusive professionalism (which restricts the label of professionalism to the advisor) manifests itself in a number of dysfunctional ways. It reinforces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/the-attitude-of-exclusive-professionalism-which-restricts-the-label/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“It is not enough for a professional to be right: An advisor’s job is to be helpful. David”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/it-is-not-enough-for-a-professional-to-be-right-an-advisor-s-job-is/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“There are dangers in this model of succumbing to “committee-itis.” If too many people are jointly responsible for the execution of firm business, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/there-are-dangers-in-this-model-of-succumbing-to-committee-itis-if/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“The biggest leverage for reliability enhancement probably lies in the emotional realm. The more a provider can do to understand and relate to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/the-biggest-leverage-for-reliability-enhancement-probably-lies-in-the/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“while most providers sell on the basis of technical competence, most buyers buy on the basis of emotion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/while-most-providers-sell-on-the-basis-of-technical-competence-most/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“Make specific commitments to your client around small things: getting that article by tomorrow, placing the call, writing the draft by Monday, looking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/make-specific-commitments-to-your-client-around-small-things-getting/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“In early Greek society, particularly in Athens, democracy meant the equivalent of a permanent town meeting—all decisions of consequence were made in public assembly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/in-early-greek-society-particularly-in-athens-democracy-meant-the/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“By starting with caring (working from the inside out), we open ourselves to possibilities and become willing to go where the client will take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/by-starting-with-caring-working-from-the-inside-out-we-open-ourselves/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [“Sincerity, the way we usually mean it, has to do with intentions; we assume it comes from within. But our clients have no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/sincerity-the-way-we-usually-mean-it-has-to-do-with-intentions-we/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) [Explore all 32 David H. Maister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) ## More Exaggerate quotes > [People exaggerate the value of things they haven't got everybody worships truth and unselfishness because they have no experience with them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/people-exaggerate-the-value-of-things-they-haven-t-got-everybody/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I don't exaggerate - I just remember big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-don-t-exaggerate-i-just-remember-big/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [We can exaggerate about many things; but we can never exaggerate our obligation to Jesus, or the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-faber/we-can-exaggerate-about-many-things-but-we-can-never-exaggerate-our/) [Frederick William Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-faber/) > [It's nonsense to say money doesn't buy happiness, but people exaggerate the extent to which more money can buy more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/it-s-nonsense-to-say-money-doesn-t-buy-happiness-but-people/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [All losers exaggerate because they want you to know how bad they feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-caro/all-losers-exaggerate-because-they-want-you-to-know-how-bad-they-feel/) [Mike Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-caro/) > [People in life, when they have a tendency to exaggerate or lie or whatever, you always sort of notice that their voice goes up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/people-in-life-when-they-have-a-tendency-to-exaggerate-or-lie-or/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [It has something to do with the facts and the law and who the judges are. So I think lawyers sometimes exaggerate their role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-abrams/it-has-something-to-do-with-the-facts-and-the-law-and-who-the-judges/) [Floyd Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-abrams/) > [We weaken what we exaggerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/we-weaken-what-we-exaggerate/) [Jean-Francois de La Harpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/) > [“If you use the term 'over-exaggerate,' you know the definition neither of 'exaggerate' nor of 'over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-ulyate/if-you-use-the-term-over-exaggerate-you-know-the-definition-neither/) [Rodney Ulyate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-ulyate/) > [Do I exaggerate? Boy, do I, and I'd do it more if I could get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/do-i-exaggerate-boy-do-i-and-i-d-do-it-more-if-i-could-get-away-with/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [my good qualities are under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/my-good-qualities-are-under-your-protection-and-you-are-to-exaggerate/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I exaggerate when I’m angry, but I’ve never gone around telling people things that aren’t true about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-exaggerate-when-i-m-angry-but-i-ve-never-gone-around-telling-people/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [One of the things that I'm realizing is that in voice-over work, you have to actually do more work with your facial muscles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-valley/one-of-the-things-that-i-m-realizing-is-that-in-voice-over-work-you/) [Mark Valley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-valley/) > [I don't think most men do hate women at all - I think most men are trying their best and facing a culturation into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/i-don-t-think-most-men-do-hate-women-at-all-i-think-most-men-are/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) Browse all 102 Exaggerate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Don’t tell lies, or even exaggerate. 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