Deceit Quote by Lord Chesterfield
“It may be objected, that I am now recommending dissimulation to you; I both own and justify it. It has been long said: Qui nescitdissimular nescit regnare: I go still farther, and say, that without some dissimulation, no business can be carried on at all.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Advice to his son, 1748
In business, some degree of deception is necessary; without it, transactions would fail.
In simple terms: A little deceit is sometimes essential in commerce.
Key Takeaway
Balance honesty with strategic discretion.
Themes
ethics
business
deception
strategy
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- sales negotiations
- corporate strategy
- political diplomacy
Key Concepts
moral relativism
pragmatism
trust
Questions to Reflect On
- When is deception justified?
- How can trust be maintained despite necessary deceit?
A Different Perspective
Excessive deceit erodes long‑term credibility.
![“Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari [living a worldly life] regardless of whether one is an ascetic or a family man. And where anger-pride-deceit-greed are absent, one is regarded as being asansaari…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ec/dada-bhagwan-31_anger_where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-dece_5756.jpg)
