--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never known an auctioneer to lie…" description: "\"I've never known an auctioneer to lie unless it was absolutely necessary.\" — Josh Billings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/josh-billings-777_funny-business_i-ve-never-known-an-auctioneer-to-lie-un_2799583.png" --- # I've never known an auctioneer to lie unless it was… ![“I've never known an auctioneer to lie unless it was absolutely necessary.” quote by Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/josh-billings-777_funny-business_i-ve-never-known-an-auctioneer-to-lie-un_2799583.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/josh-billings-777_funny-business_i-ve-never-known-an-auctioneer-to-lie-un_2799583.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/josh-billings-777_funny-business_i-ve-never-known-an-auctioneer-to-lie-un_2799583.png) > “I've never known an auctioneer to lie unless it was absolutely necessary.” [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Auctioneers lie only when necessary, implying honesty is the norm in their trade. **In simple terms:** Auctioneers usually tell the truth. Key Takeaway Value integrity in professional roles. Themes honesty trade ethics trust Mood candid reflective Type ethical practical When to use this quote - business negotiations - legal testimony - media reporting Key Concepts professional standards situational ethics market dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is lying justified in business? - How does trust affect market confidence? A Different Perspective Pressure can force dishonesty even in honest professions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-business/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) ## Related quotes > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [We don't have meetings unless absolutely necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/we-don-t-have-meetings-unless-absolutely-necessary/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [The United States need to put internet processes, policies, and procedures in place with real laws that forbid going beyond the borders of what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-united-states-need-to-put-internet-processes-policies-and/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“One should not make more assumptions than are absolutely necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kerner/one-should-not-make-more-assumptions-than-are-absolutely-necessary/) Ian Kerner > [An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-with-a-hammer-that-he-has-picked/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Auctions typically are an opportunity for you to be able to acquire what you're looking for at a lower price; typically, the auctioneer sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gilkes/auctions-typically-are-an-opportunity-for-you-to-be-able-to-acquire/) [Alexander Gilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gilkes/) > [An auctioneer is such a uniquely American thing. I keep thinking in my head, perhaps it's not as American as I think, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/an-auctioneer-is-such-a-uniquely-american-thing-i-keep-thinking-in-my/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [When the slave auctioneer asked in what he was proficient, he replied, "In ruling people."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/when-the-slave-auctioneer-asked-in-what-he-was-proficient-he-replied/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [“Hide yourself under a bushel quickly, for if your real usefulness were known to the world you would soon be knocked down to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/hide-yourself-under-a-bushel-quickly-for-if-your-real-usefulness-were/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [A great friend and mentor, Simon de Pury, invited me to be auctioneer at Phillips de Pury, which was a great honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gilkes/a-great-friend-and-mentor-simon-de-pury-invited-me-to-be-auctioneer/) [Alexander Gilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gilkes/) > [It is only an auctioneer who can equally and impartially admire all schools of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-only-an-auctioneer-who-can-equally-and-impartially-admire-all/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The auctioneer is talking for both people, and that's the big revelation about, 'Oh, that's what they're doing.' They're just doing it very fast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/the-auctioneer-is-talking-for-both-people-and-that-s-the-big/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [“It is only an auctioneer who should admire all schools of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-only-an-auctioneer-who-should-admire-all-schools-of-art/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [It is absolutely necessary, both for our advancement and the salvation of others, to follow always and in all things the beautiful light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/it-is-absolutely-necessary-both-for-our-advancement-and-the-salvation/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [Books to judicious compilers, are useful; to particular arts and professions, they are absolutely necessary; to men of real science, they are tools: but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/books-to-judicious-compilers-are-useful-to-particular-arts-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Josh Billings > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Its harly my dog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/its-harly-my-dog-a-dog-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-that-loves-you-more/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Perseverance is king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/perseverance-is-king/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Unless we put heart and soul into our labor we but brutify our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/unless-we-put-heart-and-soul-into-our-labor-we-but-brutify-our-actions/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [A secret ceases to be a secret if it is once confided - it is like a dollar bill, once broken, it is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-secret-ceases-to-be-a-secret-if-it-is-once-confided-it-is-like-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If a man is right, he can't be too radical; if he is wrong, he can't be too conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-a-man-is-right-he-can-t-be-too-radical-if-he-is-wrong-he-can-t-be/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [As a general rule, if you want to get at the truth - hear both sides and believe neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/as-a-general-rule-if-you-want-to-get-at-the-truth-hear-both-sides-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Economy is a savings-bank, into which men drop pennies, and get dollars in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/economy-is-a-savings-bank-into-which-men-drop-pennies-and-get-dollars/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Poverty is one of them kind of misfortunes that we all of us dread but none of us pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/poverty-is-one-of-them-kind-of-misfortunes-that-we-all-of-us-dread/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If the world despises a hypocrite, what must they think of him in heaven?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-the-world-despises-a-hypocrite-what-must-they-think-of-him-in/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) [Explore all 372 Josh Billings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## More Funny business quotes > [The tragedy is that Dell didn't win it - we lost it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-tragedy-is-that-dell-didn-t-win-it-we-lost-it/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of its behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stilwell/the-higher-a-monkey-climbs-the-more-you-see-of-its-behind/) [Joseph Stilwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stilwell/) > [There's no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-s-no-business-like-show-business-but-there-are-several/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [It is unfortunate we can't buy many business executives for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they are worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-unfortunate-we-can-t-buy-many-business-executives-for-what-they/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It was all very strange, Mr. Gray thought, as he wiped the coffee canister clean with a sponge. 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The only time it's not funny is when business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-louis-dreyfus/doing-actual-comedic-material-is-just-about-the-most-joyful-endeavor/) [Julia Louis-Dreyfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-louis-dreyfus/) > [Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/get-the-right-people-on-the-bus-the-wrong-people-off-the-bus-and-the/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/money-can-t-buy-friends-but-you-can-get-a-better-class-of-enemy/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Those proud of keeping an orderly desk never know the thrill of finding something that they thought irretrievably lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-exley/those-proud-of-keeping-an-orderly-desk-never-know-the-thrill-of-2/) [Helen Exley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-exley/) > [We were hoping to build a small profitable company; and of course, what we've done is build a large, unprofitable company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/we-were-hoping-to-build-a-small-profitable-company-and-of-course-what/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [Funny business, a woman's career: the things you drop on the way up the ladder so you can move faster. 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