Anarchy Quote by Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable
“It is sometimes useful to pretend we are deceived, because when we show a deceiving man that we see through his artifices, we only encourage him to increase his deceptions.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Private correspondence, 1847
Feigning ignorance can provoke a deceiver to intensify lies, so sometimes it’s safer to appear deceived.
In simple terms: Pretending to be fooled may backfire.
Key Takeaway
Avoid feeding deception.
Themes
deception
strategy
trust
Mood
cautious
strategic
Type
letter
philosophical
When to use this quote
- negotiations
- personal relationships
- political intrigue
Key Concepts
social manipulation
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When is honesty better?
- How to detect true deception?
A Different Perspective
Risk of encouraging more deceit.
