Crooked Quote by Groucho Marx
““There's one way to find out if a man is honest: ask him; if he says yes, you know he's crooked.””
About This Quote
Source Film: A Night at the Opera, 1935
Honesty can be tested by asking directly; a yes answer may reveal deceit, implying truthfulness often hides behind denial.
In simple terms: A yes answer can mean lying.
Key Takeaway
Question answers critically.
Themes
honesty
trust
communication
irony
Mood
witty
satirical
Type
humorous
philosophical
When to use this quote
- interview
- business negotiation
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
skepticism
human nature
social interaction
Questions to Reflect On
- When is honesty more complex than a simple yes?
- How do you interpret ambiguous answers?
A Different Perspective
People may be truthful yet still deceptive in nuance.
![“He [Groucho's father] had absolutely no training, and if you had ever seen one of his suits, you'd realize what an accurate statement that is. You see, Pop never used a tape measure. He didn't believe in it. He said he could just look at a man and tell hi.” quote by Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/02f/groucho-marx-788_accurate_he-groucho-s-father-had-absolutely-no-tr_22161.jpg)
![“CLOV [sadly] No one that ever lived ever thought so crooked as we.” quote by Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f98/samuel-beckett-365_quote_clov-sadly-no-one-that-ever-lived-ever-t_82479.jpg)
