---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are,” said Twain, “certain…"
description: "\"“There are,” said Twain, “certain sweet-smelling, sugarcoated lies current in the world which all politic men have apparently tacitly conspired togethe..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/mark-twain-22_discreet-sheep_there-are-said-twain-certain-sweet-smell_2701019.png"
---

#  There are,” said Twain, “certain sweet-smelling…

![“There are,” said Twain, “certain sweet-smelling, sugarcoated lies current in the world which all politic men have apparently tacitly conspired together to support and perpetuate… We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going and then go with the drove. We have two opinions: one…” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/mark-twain-22_discreet-sheep_there-are-said-twain-certain-sweet-smell_2701019.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/mark-twain-22_discreet-sheep_there-are-said-twain-certain-sweet-smell_2701019.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/mark-twain-22_discreet-sheep_there-are-said-twain-certain-sweet-smell_2701019.png)

> ““There are,” said Twain, “certain sweet-smelling, sugarcoated lies current in the world which all politic men have apparently tacitly conspired together to support and perpetuate… We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going and then go with the drove. We have two opinions: one private, which we are afraid to express, and another one -- the one we use -- which we force ourselves to wear to please Mrs. Grundy.””

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often hide their true opinions, conforming to societal expectations and supporting false narratives for acceptance.

**In simple terms:** People pretend to agree to fit in.

Key Takeaway

Speak your true view despite pressure.

Themes

conformity truth social pressure

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- political debate
- workplace meetings
- social media discussions
- family gatherings

Key Concepts

social conformity self‑censorship public opinion

Questions to Reflect On

- What truth are you hiding to please others?
- How does conformity affect societal progress?

A Different Perspective

Risk of alienation or conflict when honesty challenges norms.

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[Discreet Sheep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discreet-sheep-2004104/) [Drove Opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drove-opinions-2732950/) [Perpetuate Discreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetuate-discreet-2732951/) [Said Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-twain-2732948/) [Sugarcoated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sugarcoated-2732949/)

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> [We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going, and then go with the drove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/we-are-discreet-sheep-we-wait-to-see-how-the-drove-is-going-and-then/)

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