Lies Quote by Fuyumi Ono
““Palaces are built on the people's bones. To tell the truth, the masses would be better off without kingdoms, which is why it takes a gifted ruler to tell just the right lies so they never realize it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Twelve Kingdoms” series, 1992–1993
Power structures rely on myths; leaders manipulate truth to maintain control.
In simple terms: Rulers use lies to keep people obedient.
Key Takeaway
Question the narratives presented by authority.
Themes
politics
myth
control
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
political
literary
When to use this quote
- government speeches
- media narratives
- historical regimes
Key Concepts
propaganda
legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- What “right lies” have you encountered?
- Who benefits from the myths you accept?
A Different Perspective
Truth can be suppressed; not all lies are obvious.
![“See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. [That] the fundamental treason to the mind ... is the one fundamental treason which the scholar's mind must not allow is the bond uniting all the Oxford people in the last resort.” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c74/dorothy-l-sayers-738_academia_see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-re_16293.jpg)
