--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lying is a crime the least liable to…" description: "\"Lying is a crime the least liable to variation in its definitions. A child will upon the slightest temptation tell an untruth as readily as the truth. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/joseph-priestley-17782_advantage_lying-is-a-crime-the-least-liable-to-var_1917944.png" --- # Lying is a crime the least liable to variation in its… ![“Lying is a crime the least liable to variation in its definitions. A child will upon the slightest temptation tell an untruth as readily as the truth. That is, as soon as he can suspect that it will be to his advantage; and the dread that he afterward has of telling a lie is acquired principally…” quote by Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/joseph-priestley-17782_advantage_lying-is-a-crime-the-least-liable-to-var_1917944.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/joseph-priestley-17782_advantage_lying-is-a-crime-the-least-liable-to-var_1917944.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/joseph-priestley-17782_advantage_lying-is-a-crime-the-least-liable-to-var_1917944.png) > “Lying is a crime the least liable to variation in its definitions. A child will upon the slightest temptation tell an untruth as readily as the truth. That is, as soon as he can suspect that it will be to his advantage; and the dread that he afterward has of telling a lie is acquired principally by his being threatened, punished, and terrified by those who detect him in it, till at length, a number of painful impressions are annexed to the telling of an untruth, and he comes even to shudder at the thought of it.” [Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People lie when it benefits them; fear of punishment and social pressure teach them to dread lying. **In simple terms:** People lie for gain, fear teaches honesty. Key Takeaway Recognize motives behind dishonesty. Themes ethics psychology social pressure Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - Childhood education - parental discipline - legal testimony Key Concepts Moral development behavioral conditioning trust dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What drives honesty in different societies? - How does fear shape moral choices? A Different Perspective Cultural differences affect definitions of lying. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Dread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dread/) [Impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impression/) [Length](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/length/) [Liable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liable/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-crime-2928009/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful/) [Suspects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspects/) [Tell Untruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-untruth-2928011/) [Telling Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-lie/) [Telling Untruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-untruth-2928010/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) [Threatened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened/) [Untruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/untruth/) [Variation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variation/) ## Related quotes > [It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. 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