Humor Quote by Mark Haddon (Author
““.. a simile is not a lie, unless it is a bad simile.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, 2003
A simile is a figurative comparison; it is false only if it poorly represents reality.
In simple terms: A simile is false when it’s a bad comparison.
Key Takeaway
Use clear, accurate comparisons.
Themes
language
figurative speech
truth
communication
literature
Mood
analytical
educational
Type
instructional
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- teaching
- public speaking
Key Concepts
rhetoric
semantic precision
literary devices
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate a good simile?
- When might a weak simile be acceptable?
A Different Perspective
Bad similes can mislead; cultural differences affect interpretation.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
