--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, everyone lies. The difference…" description: "\"“Well, everyone lies. The difference between a hero and a villain is whether anyone believes him.”\" — Joe Abercrombie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_well-everyone-lies-the-difference-betwee_2306058.png" --- # Well, everyone lies. The difference between a hero and a… ![“Well, everyone lies. The difference between a hero and a villain is whether anyone believes him.” quote by Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_well-everyone-lies-the-difference-betwee_2306058.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_well-everyone-lies-the-difference-betwee_2306058.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/joe-abercrombie-791_lies_well-everyone-lies-the-difference-betwee_2306058.png) > ““Well, everyone lies. The difference between a hero and a villain is whether anyone believes him.”” [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. Everyone lies; heroism depends on belief, suggesting reputation defines hero or villain more than actions. **In simple terms:** Belief determines hero or villain status. Key Takeaway Consider how perception shapes character judgment. Themes truth belief heroism reputation Mood critical contemplative Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - storytelling - personal reputation - media narratives - leadership decisions Key Concepts ethics psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate truth versus belief? - What makes you label someone a hero? A Different Perspective Public opinion can be manipulated, altering perceived heroism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) ## Related quotes > [In the theatre, a hero is one who believes that all women are ladies, a villain one who believes that all ladies are women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/in-the-theatre-a-hero-is-one-who-believes-that-all-women-are-ladies-a/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [“With me: one minus one = one; with you: it’s zero. Here lies the only difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/with-me-one-minus-one-one-with-you-it-s-zero-here-lies-the-only/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [With me: one minus one = one; with you: its zero. Here lies the only difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/with-me-one-minus-one-one-with-you-its-zero-here-lies-the-only/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“Lies 1: There is only the present and nothing to remember. Lies 2: Time is a straight line. Lies 3: The difference between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/lies-1-there-is-only-the-present-and-nothing-to-remember-lies-2-time/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I personally feel that no human is a hero or a villain. All of us have our grey sides, and that is why grey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/i-personally-feel-that-no-human-is-a-hero-or-a-villain-all-of-us-have/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [“Every story needs its hero. And its villain. And its monster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amie-kaufman-jay-kristoff/every-story-needs-its-hero-and-its-villain-and-its-monster/) Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff > [I have no qualms about doing a character who may be below the lead in the pecking order, whether it's a hero or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tovino-thomas/i-have-no-qualms-about-doing-a-character-who-may-be-below-the-lead-in/) [Tovino Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tovino-thomas/) > [I'd love to play Neil Kinnock. Because of my ginger hair, I thought that was a possibility. He's a hero and a villain in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-flemyng/i-d-love-to-play-neil-kinnock-because-of-my-ginger-hair-i-thought/) [Jason Flemyng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-flemyng/) > [Where there is a hero, there is always a villain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwajeet-pradhan/where-there-is-a-hero-there-is-always-a-villain/) [Vishwajeet Pradhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishwajeet-pradhan/) > [I think that it is interesting in sports, people love to see that hero-slash-villain aspect and in no way am I thinking about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/i-think-that-it-is-interesting-in-sports-people-love-to-see-that-hero/) [Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/) > [“The ignorant rely on Providence they look to the stars for help instead of relying on themselves. Some artificiality creeps in: the hero is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishakhadatta/the-ignorant-rely-on-providence-they-look-to-the-stars-for-help/) Vishakhadatta > [Well this is the World that we living One minute you the hero the next you the villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob/well-this-is-the-world-that-we-living-one-minute-you-the-hero-the/) [BOB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob/) > [I think all of us have a hero and a villain in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anson-mount/i-think-all-of-us-have-a-hero-and-a-villain-in-us/) [Anson Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anson-mount/) > [“We are all entitled to make mistakes, but what separates a hero from a villain is how we learn from those mistakes. A villain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-rowland/we-are-all-entitled-to-make-mistakes-but-what-separates-a-hero-from-a/) [Mitch Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-rowland/) > [It really doesn't matter whether it's the villain or the hero. Sometimes the villain is the most colorful. But I prefer a part where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-ford/it-really-doesn-t-matter-whether-it-s-the-villain-or-the-hero/) [Glenn Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-ford/) ## 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": "“Well, everyone lies. 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