--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Buying a lie is one thing, giving it away…" description: "\"Buying a lie is one thing, giving it away for free is quite another.\" — Douglas Horton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/douglas-horton-11608_altruism_buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away_3208577.png" --- # Buying a lie is one thing, giving it away for free is… ![“Buying a lie is one thing, giving it away for free is quite another.” quote by Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/douglas-horton-11608_altruism_buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away_3208577.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/douglas-horton-11608_altruism_buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away_3208577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/douglas-horton-11608_altruism_buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away_3208577.png) > “Buying a lie is one thing, giving it away for free is quite another.” [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Providing false information for free is less harmful than selling it, but both are unethical. **In simple terms:** Free lies still cause damage. Key Takeaway Avoid spreading misinformation altogether. Themes ethics truth communication Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical educational When to use this quote - journalism - social media - education Key Concepts integrity responsibility Questions to Reflect On - Why do people share falsehoods? - How can you verify information before sharing? A Different Perspective Even free lies can erode trust and cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altruism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism/) [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [ ...She's not buying \[the lie\], but there's nothing else on the shelves. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/she-s-not-buying-the-lie-but-there-s-nothing-else-on-the-shelves/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [“As soon as you say, 'I'm going to use the legal system to impose my will on you,' you're buying into a lie,' schlichtmann…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fagin/as-soon-as-you-say-i-m-going-to-use-the-legal-system-to-impose-my/) Dan Fagin > [There are people who will say that this whole account is a lie, but a thing isn't necessarily a lie even if it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/there-are-people-who-will-say-that-this-whole-account-is-a-lie-but-a/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [For peace of mind, I will lie about any thing at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hempel/for-peace-of-mind-i-will-lie-about-any-thing-at-any-time/) [Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/) > [Every time we tell a lie, the thing we fear grows stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/every-time-we-tell-a-lie-the-thing-we-fear-grows-stronger/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [What is it with you people? You think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/what-is-it-with-you-people-you-think-not-getting-caught-in-a-lie-is/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [“a lie is the only thing that can remove us from our promise, the only thing that can separate us from the tangible experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clark/a-lie-is-the-only-thing-that-can-remove-us-from-our-promise-the-only/) [Jason Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clark/) > [“a thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer then the truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-wilson/a-thing-may-happen-and-be-a-total-lie-another-thing-may-not-happen-2/) [Leah Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-wilson/) > [It's one thing to lie to ourselves. It's another thing to believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/it-s-one-thing-to-lie-to-ourselves-it-s-another-thing-to-believe-it/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“And the Latin quote across your heart? What does it mean?” “Lie about one thing, lie about it all...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gracia-williams/and-the-latin-quote-across-your-heart-what-does-it-mean-lie-about-one/) [Whitney Gracia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gracia-williams/) > [A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/a-thing-may-happen-and-be-a-total-lie-another-thing-may-not-happen/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [“Do you thinking not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?"--Robert Redford from the 1975 movie Three Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-grady/do-you-thinking-not-getting-caught-in-a-lie-is-the-same-thing-as/) James Grady > [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/) > [Welcome thy neighbor into thy fallout shelter. He'll come in handy if you run out of food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-mclaughlin/welcome-thy-neighbor-into-thy-fallout-shelter-he-ll-come-in-handy-if/) Dean McLaughlin > [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/) [Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/) ## More by Douglas Horton > [Why ask why? If it's raining it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/why-ask-why-if-it-s-raining-it-just-is/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Being sorry is the highest act of selfishness, seeing value only after discarding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/being-sorry-is-the-highest-act-of-selfishness-seeing-value-only-after/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [The more we are filled with thoughts of lust the less we find true romantic love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/the-more-we-are-filled-with-thoughts-of-lust-the-less-we-find-true/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If wishes were fishes we'd all be throwing nets. If wishes were horses we'd all ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/if-wishes-were-fishes-we-d-all-be-throwing-nets-if-wishes-were-horses/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Materialism is the only form of distraction from true bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/materialism-is-the-only-form-of-distraction-from-true-bliss/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/while-seeking-revenge-dig-two-graves-one-for-yourself/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If food were free, why work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/if-food-were-free-why-work/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Thought precedes action, action does not always precede thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/thought-precedes-action-action-does-not-always-precede-thought/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Man worships because God lays His hand to the dust of our experience, and man miraculously becomes a living soul - and knows it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/man-worships-because-god-lays-his-hand-to-the-dust-of-our-experience/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Seeing the light is a choice, not seeing the light is no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/seeing-the-light-is-a-choice-not-seeing-the-light-is-no-choice/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [First rule of Economics 101: our desires are insatiable. Second rule: we can stomach only three Big Macs at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/first-rule-of-economics-101-our-desires-are-insatiable-second-rule-we/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [We may not always get what we want, but surely we will get what we deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/we-may-not-always-get-what-we-want-but-surely-we-will-get-what-we/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Sherrill On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/sherrill-on-easter-day-the-veil-between-time-and-eternity-thins-to/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [As the fly bangs against the window attempting freedom while the door stands open, so we bang against death ignoring heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/as-the-fly-bangs-against-the-window-attempting-freedom-while-the-door/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Beauty is variable, ugliness is constant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/beauty-is-variable-ugliness-is-constant/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) [Explore all 59 Douglas Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) ## More Altruism quotes > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“...True classical dropouts in society are those who avoid difficult challenges and cling to the first opportunity that comes their way. They never test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/true-classical-dropouts-in-society-are-those-who-avoid-difficult/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Take a stand that reflects the widest horizons of your soul if you don’t want to be a slave to external powers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/take-a-stand-that-reflects-the-widest-horizons-of-your-soul-if-you/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [One of the great issues in biology is the origin of altruism - of why you would do something for someone else that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/one-of-the-great-issues-in-biology-is-the-origin-of-altruism-of-why/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/how-selfish-soever-man-may-be-supposed-there-are-evidently-some/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Restoration ecology is experimental science, a science of love and altruism. In its attempts to reverse the processes of ecosystem degradation it runs exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/restoration-ecology-is-experimental-science-a-science-of-love-and/) [Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/) > [“...of all the nonsense that twists the world, the concept of 'altruism' is the worst. People do what they want to do, every time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/of-all-the-nonsense-that-twists-the-world-the-concept-of-altruism-is/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Only a fool would find happiness from an achievement that is detrimental to those he loves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/only-a-fool-would-find-happiness-from-an-achievement-that-is/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/) [Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/) > [“…the purpose of life is to nurture joy, which involves those aspects of humanity that enrich the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-nurture-joy-which-involves-those-aspects-of/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Whatever they say about it, but being altruistic is not so simple for everyone. Not to look and sound like despotism, altruism must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-biyuts/whatever-they-say-about-it-but-being-altruistic-is-not-so-simple-for/) [Lara Biyuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-biyuts/) > [Effective altruism is the form of altruism in which we bring our rational capacities to bear in order to do the most good that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/effective-altruism-is-the-form-of-altruism-in-which-we-bring-our/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Societies and people that come close to being happy are those that do well in narrowing the disparity between their desires and their needs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/societies-and-people-that-come-close-to-being-happy-are-those-that-do/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“Most of the truly kind people of this world show some measure of discomfort when offered kindness. Their gratitude stems not only from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/most-of-the-truly-kind-people-of-this-world-show-some-measure-of/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) [Browse all 419 Altruism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Buying a lie is one thing, giving it away for free is quite another.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Horton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away-for-free-is-quite-another/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Altruism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away-for-free-is-quite-another/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/douglas-horton-11608_altruism_buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away_3208577.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/douglas-horton-11608_altruism_buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away_3208577.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/douglas-horton-11608_altruism_buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away_3208577.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Buying a lie is one thing, giving it away for free is quite another.” — Douglas Horton", "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": "Douglas Horton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Buying a lie is one thing,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away-for-free-is-quite-another/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away-for-free-is-quite-another/#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 } } ] } ```