--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't ask why patients lie. I just…" description: "\"I don't ask why patients lie. I just assume they all do.\" — Dr Gregory House" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/dr-gregory-house-21709_patience_i-don-t-ask-why-patients-lie-i-just-assu_412809.jpg" --- # I don't ask why patients lie. I just assume they all do. ![“I don't ask why patients lie. I just assume they all do.” quote by Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/dr-gregory-house-21709_patience_i-don-t-ask-why-patients-lie-i-just-assu_412809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/dr-gregory-house-21709_patience_i-don-t-ask-why-patients-lie-i-just-assu_412809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/dr-gregory-house-21709_patience_i-don-t-ask-why-patients-lie-i-just-assu_412809.jpg) > “I don't ask why patients lie. I just assume they all do.” [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assumes patients are deceptive, reflecting a cynical view of human honesty. **In simple terms:** Assume patients lie. Key Takeaway Question trust in others. Themes cynicism trust medical ethics Mood skeptical clinical Type advice reflective When to use this quote - clinical interviews - patient history taking - team discussions Key Concepts patient deception diagnostic bias Questions to Reflect On - How to balance skepticism with empathy? A Different Perspective Can eroding trust harm patient care? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Patients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-patients-1797876/) [Just Assume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-assume-235190/) [Lie Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-just/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patients/) [Patients Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patients-lie-2402237/) ## Related quotes > [House: I don't ask why patients lie, I just assume they all do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/house-md/house-i-don-t-ask-why-patients-lie-i-just-assume-they-all-do/) [House MD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/house-md/) > [“I don't ask why patients lie, I just assume they all do. -Greg House”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/house/i-don-t-ask-why-patients-lie-i-just-assume-they-all-do-greg-house/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/house/) > [When we, doctors, ask patients what their priorities are if time is short, what we do is we use what is available to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/when-we-doctors-ask-patients-what-their-priorities-are-if-time-is/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [Honestly, I just assume that whatever is going to happen to me is going to happen. There it goes: someone is there, someone isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ayers/honestly-i-just-assume-that-whatever-is-going-to-happen-to-me-is/) [Kevin Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ayers/) > [If you want to know the truth, just ask me. Don't just assume that what other people say is true. They don't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-you-want-to-know-the-truth-just-ask-me-don-t-just-assume-that-what/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I know what I'm doing off the court. Everybody just sees pictures or videos of me, and if it looks out of shape, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bennett/i-know-what-i-m-doing-off-the-court-everybody-just-sees-pictures-or/) [Anthony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bennett/) > [“Why don’t we just assume from now on that I’m just generally freaked out at all times?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-powell/why-don-t-we-just-assume-from-now-on-that-i-m-just-generally-freaked/) [Gretchen Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-powell/) > [When you're getting to do what you want to do, you just assume you're going to hit a point where someone is like, 'No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/when-you-re-getting-to-do-what-you-want-to-do-you-just-assume-you-re/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [“Just assume that you don’t know anything – that’s a good place to start from in any situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/just-assume-that-you-don-t-know-anything-that-s-a-good-place-to-start/) [Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/) > [I think half the time I just assume I don't really know what I'm doing - you have to do that to a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/i-think-half-the-time-i-just-assume-i-don-t-really-know-what-i-m/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [Just because you assume something does NOT make it the GOSPEL.Make sure you've heard all sides of the story before you judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/just-because-you-assume-something-does-not-make-it-the-gospel-make/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [I can see how people would just assume I am a no-nonsense kind of girl, you know? But the truth is, it's not who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-shookus/i-can-see-how-people-would-just-assume-i-am-a-no-nonsense-kind-of/) [Lindsay Shookus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-shookus/) > [How ballsy it was to just assume you know, with one glance, the things another person could live without. As if it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/how-ballsy-it-was-to-just-assume-you-know-with-one-glance-the-things/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it's addressed to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-of-us-can-read-the-writing-on-the-wall-we-just-assume-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Dr Gregory House > [Steve McQueen without hair? It's a blessing he died young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/steve-mcqueen-without-hair-it-s-a-blessing-he-died-young/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [You think I have a hypocritical attitude to hypocrisy? The problem is there are 26 letters in the alphabet, and he only uses two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/you-think-i-have-a-hypocritical-attitude-to-hypocrisy-the-problem-is/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [I'm sorry, but the fact that the sexual pleasure center of your cerebral cortex has been over-stimulated by spirochetes is a poor basis for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/i-m-sorry-but-the-fact-that-the-sexual-pleasure-center-of-your/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Why is one simpler than two? It's lower, it's lonelier, but is it simpler? Each one of these conditions is about a thousand to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/why-is-one-simpler-than-two-it-s-lower-it-s-lonelier-but-is-it/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Hey, I can be a jerk to people I haven't slept with. I am that good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/hey-i-can-be-a-jerk-to-people-i-haven-t-slept-with-i-am-that-good/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Listen, I saved his life. That means I get credit for every life he saves from here on out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/listen-i-saved-his-life-that-means-i-get-credit-for-every-life-he/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [What would you prefer - a doctor who holds your hand while you die or one who ignores you while you get better? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/what-would-you-prefer-a-doctor-who-holds-your-hand-while-you-die-or/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Every minute that we refuse to love one another, another puppy cries another tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/every-minute-that-we-refuse-to-love-one-another-another-puppy-cries/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Technical term is narcissism. You can't believe everything is your fault unless you also believe you're all powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/technical-term-is-narcissism-you-can-t-believe-everything-is-your/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Hello, sick people and their loved ones! In the interest of saving time and avoiding a lot of boring chitchat later, I'm Doctor Gregory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/hello-sick-people-and-their-loved-ones-in-the-interest-of-saving-time/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [He thought he was dying. Dying people lie, too. Wish they'd worked less, they'd been nicer, they'd opened orphanages for kittens. If you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/he-thought-he-was-dying-dying-people-lie-too-wish-they-d-worked-less/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Gimme a reason to get out of this, and I'll tell you who started the rumor about you being a transsexual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/gimme-a-reason-to-get-out-of-this-and-i-ll-tell-you-who-started-the/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [I've been a doctor for years why do I have to keep assuring people I know what I'm doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/i-ve-been-a-doctor-for-years-why-do-i-have-to-keep-assuring-people-i/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Bizarre is good! Common has hundreds of explanations. Bizarre has hardly any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/bizarre-is-good-common-has-hundreds-of-explanations-bizarre-has/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [You're not happy unless things are just right. Which means two things: you're a good boss, and you'll never be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/you-re-not-happy-unless-things-are-just-right-which-means-two-things/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) [Explore all 28 Dr Gregory House quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) ## More Patience quotes > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [We're on the road 300 days a year. There's no recovery time. It's a test of your physical and mental endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-phoenix/we-re-on-the-road-300-days-a-year-there-s-no-recovery-time-it-s-a/) [Beth Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-phoenix/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Here is my procedure for a saliva test: Prepare 7 strips of pH paper. Take a baseline pH reading. Have the patient drink 10cc…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ameer-rosic/here-is-my-procedure-for-a-saliva-test-prepare-7-strips-of-ph-paper/) [Ameer Rosic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ameer-rosic/) > [“There is no time for patience - there is no time for diplomacy - there is no time for policies, legislations and meaningless paperwork.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-is-no-time-for-patience-there-is-no-time-for-diplomacy-there-is/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Character never quits; and with patience and persistence; Dreams do come true!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-maravich/character-never-quits-and-with-patience-and-persistence-dreams-do/) [Pete Maravich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-maravich/) > [I don't know about writing. It's quite lonely. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself. I don't know if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/i-don-t-know-about-writing-it-s-quite-lonely-you-have-to-have-a-lot/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [There are few husbands whom the wife cannot win in the long run, by patience and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/there-are-few-husbands-whom-the-wife-cannot-win-in-the-long-run-by/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [God has perfect timing...Never early...never late...It takes a little patience...It takes a lot of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-has-perfect-timing-never-early-never-late-it-takes-a-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,997 Patience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't ask why patients lie. 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