--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He'd played at being a different man, but…" description: "\"“He'd played at being a different man, but it had all been lies. The hardest kind to see through. The kind you tell yourself.”\" — Joe Abercrombie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but_730256.png" --- # He'd played at being a different man, but it had all been… ![“He'd played at being a different man, but it had all been lies. The hardest kind to see through. The kind you tell yourself.” quote by Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but_730256.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but_730256.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but_730256.png) > ““He'd played at being a different man, but it had all been lies. The hardest kind to see through. The kind you tell yourself.”” [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pretending to be someone else leads to self‑deception; the hardest lies are those we tell ourselves. **In simple terms:** Self‑deception is hardest when we create false identities. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront your own self‑lies. Themes identity self‑deception psychology integrity Mood reflective serious Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - Therapy sessions - career changes - relationship conflicts - personal growth Key Concepts Self‑concept cognitive bias authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What false identity are you maintaining? - How does self‑deception affect your decisions? A Different Perspective Self‑deception can be reinforced by social feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) ## Related quotes > [“lies. The hardest kind to see through. The kind you tell yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/lies-the-hardest-kind-to-see-through-the-kind-you-tell-yourself/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [One man lies in his words, and gets a bad reputation; another in his manners, and enjoys a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/one-man-lies-in-his-words-and-gets-a-bad-reputation-another-in-his/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“The virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and continually make a new man of himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-virtue-of-man-lies-in-his-ability-to-correct-his-mistakes-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/a-man-who-lies-to-himself-and-believes-his-own-lies-becomes-unable-to/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [I promise that I'll be a different man. Please give me the chance to go and live again. I'm having some trouble can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/i-promise-that-i-ll-be-a-different-man-please-give-me-the-chance-to/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [“Ted's life was so carefully compartmentalized that he was able to be one person with one woman, and an entirely different man with another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/ted-s-life-was-so-carefully-compartmentalized-that-he-was-able-to-be/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [“Laurent asked, ‘Is it different than with a man?’ ‘Yes,’ said Damen. It was different with everyone. He didn’t say this aloud;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/laurent-asked-is-it-different-than-with-a-man-yes-said-damen-it-was/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [I am always a different man; a reinterpretation of the man I was yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-bishop-2/i-am-always-a-different-man-a-reinterpretation-of-the-man-i-was/) K. J. Bishop > [He had reached that moment in life, different for each one of us, when a man abandonds himself to his demon or to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-yourcenar/he-had-reached-that-moment-in-life-different-for-each-one-of-us-when/) [Marguerite Yourcenar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-yourcenar/) > [A boy who is trouble is something entirely different as a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/a-boy-who-is-trouble-is-something-entirely-different-as-a-man/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Do not be afraid to be different. Every man is born to do something unique and something distinctive, and if we do not do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/do-not-be-afraid-to-be-different-every-man-is-born-to-do-something/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [A man who has broken with his past feels a different man. He will not feel it a shame to confess his past wrongs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-man-who-has-broken-with-his-past-feels-a-different-man-he-will-not/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-world-is-very-different-now-for-man-holds-in-his-mortal-hands-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“It was probably not so unusual to be a different person with a different man, for all parts were authentically within, waiting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/it-was-probably-not-so-unusual-to-be-a-different-person-with-a/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [“The man who walks in the shadow of vengeance is a different man from the man who walks in the light of justice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-rodaughan/the-man-who-walks-in-the-shadow-of-vengeance-is-a-different-man-from/) Graeme Rodaughan ## More by Joe Abercrombie > [“She shrugged. “I fell. I’m a clumsy fool.” “I know how you feel. I’m such a fool I knocked half my teeth out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/she-shrugged-i-fell-i-m-a-clumsy-fool-i-know-how-you-feel-i-m-such-a/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/things-aren-t-what-they-used-to-be-is-the-rallying-cry-of-small-minds/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Mercy and weakness are the same thing in war, and there's no prize for nice behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/mercy-and-weakness-are-the-same-thing-in-war-and-there-s-no-prize-for/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“The lowly have small ambitions, and are satisfied with small indulgences. They need not get fair treatment. They need only think that they do... ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-lowly-have-small-ambitions-and-are-satisfied-with-small/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“What do the dice say?" Dice say nothing. They are dice." Why roll'em, then?" They are dice. What else would I do with them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/what-do-the-dice-say-dice-say-nothing-they-are-dice-why-roll-em-then/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“You have to realistic about these things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/you-have-to-realistic-about-these-things/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“That was the difference between a hero and a villain, a soldier and a murderer, a victory and a crime. Which side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-villain-a-soldier-and-a/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Nostalgia was becoming a favoured hobby of his. Strange, how the best moments of our lives we scarcely notice except in looking back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/nostalgia-was-becoming-a-favoured-hobby-of-his-strange-how-the-best/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“The only difference between war and murder is the number of dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-only-difference-between-war-and-murder-is-the-number-of-dead/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Names turned over by time, like the plough turning the soil. Bringing up the new while the old were buried in the mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/names-turned-over-by-time-like-the-plough-turning-the-soil-bringing/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Knives,’ muttered Calder, ‘and threats, and bribes, and war?’ Bayaz’ eyes shone with the lamplight. ‘Yes?’ ‘What kind of a fucking wizard are you?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/knives-muttered-calder-and-threats-and-bribes-and-war-bayaz-eyes/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Straining and straining, getting nowhere, but unable to stop pushing in case the rock should fall and crush him. Meanwhile, arrogant bastards who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/straining-and-straining-getting-nowhere-but-unable-to-stop-pushing-in/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“Yarvi: 'If we had known the hardship of it, we might have chosen another.' Shidwala: 'So it is with many choices.' Yarvi: 'All we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/yarvi-if-we-had-known-the-hardship-of-it-we-might-have-chosen-another/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/sometimes-men-change-for-the-better-sometimes-men-change-for-the/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [“A bitter ending' said Yarvi. 'Many sweet stories have them', said Jaud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/a-bitter-ending-said-yarvi-many-sweet-stories-have-them-said-jaud/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) [Explore all 364 Joe Abercrombie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## More Lies quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [Heaven lies around us in our infancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/heaven-lies-around-us-in-our-infancy/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The greatest gift you can give to those around you is honesty. Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“It's the basic truth of the human condition: everybody lies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/house/it-s-the-basic-truth-of-the-human-condition-everybody-lies/) [house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/house/) > [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Words To Remember: Nobody's phone is ever off. They're lying...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-to-remember-nobody-s-phone-is-ever-off-they-re-lying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who know New York City primarily through tourism or mass culture may think of us natives as possessing certain shared characteristics, not all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/those-who-know-new-york-city-primarily-through-tourism-or-mass/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [“I'm over your lies and I'm over your games. I'm over you asking me when you know I'm not okay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-mcphee/i-m-over-your-lies-and-i-m-over-your-games-i-m-over-you-asking-me/) [Katharine McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-mcphee/) > [“DIGITAL TRUTH DIGITAL LIES • Searches • Social media posts • Views • Social media likes • Clicks • Dating profiles • Swipes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-stephens-davidowitz/digital-truth-digital-lies-searches-social-media-posts-views-social/) [Seth Stephens-Davidowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-stephens-davidowitz/) > [You said you loved me, You said you cared for me, you said you wouldn't let anything happen to me. Then we got into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nohaterzz/you-said-you-loved-me-you-said-you-cared-for-me-you-said-you-wouldn-t/) NoHaterzz [Browse all 4,881 Lies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He'd played at being a different man, but it had all been lies. The hardest kind to see through. The kind you tell yourself.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Abercrombie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but-it-had-all-been-lies-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but-it-had-all-been-lies-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but_730256.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but_730256.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but_730256.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He'd played at being a different man, but it had all been lies. The hardest kind to see through. The kind…” — Joe Abercrombie", "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": "Joe Abercrombie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He'd played at being a different...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but-it-had-all-been-lies-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/he-d-played-at-being-a-different-man-but-it-had-all-been-lies-the/#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 } } ] } ```