--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A liar would be brave toward God, while…" description: "\"A liar would be brave toward God, while he is a coward toward men; for a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-brave_a-liar-would-be-brave-toward-god-while-h_1550051.jpg" --- # A liar would be brave toward God, while he is a coward… ![“A liar would be brave toward God, while he is a coward toward men; for a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-brave_a-liar-would-be-brave-toward-god-while-h_1550051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-brave_a-liar-would-be-brave-toward-god-while-h_1550051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-brave_a-liar-would-be-brave-toward-god-while-h_1550051.jpg) > “A liar would be brave toward God, while he is a coward toward men; for a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bravery before divine judgment contrasts with cowardice before human judgment; lies are more feared by people than by God. **In simple terms:** Being honest with God is easier than with people. Key Takeaway Speak truthfully to others, not just to a higher power. Themes honesty faith courage Mood reflective serious Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - religious reflection - conflict resolution Key Concepts theology human nature Questions to Reflect On - Do you find it harder to be honest with peers than with a higher authority? - What drives the fear of human judgment? A Different Perspective People may still lie to protect themselves despite fear of divine judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-brave/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Brave God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-god-1685651/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [God Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-coward-1685652/) [God Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-shrinks-4956406/) [Liar Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liar-brave-5791851/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinks/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“If it be well weighed, to say that a man lieth, is as much to say, as that he is brave towards God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-it-be-well-weighed-to-say-that-a-man-lieth-is-as-much-to-say-as/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [To say that a man lieth, is as much to say, as that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/to-say-that-a-man-lieth-is-as-much-to-say-as-that-he-is-brave-towards/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [A lie faces God and shrinks from man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/a-lie-faces-god-and-shrinks-from-man/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [If we assume that man actually does resemble God, then we are forced into the impossible theory that God is a coward, an idiot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-assume-that-man-actually-does-resemble-god-then-we-are-forced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He led a lost cause, and he was not afraid of God's thunderbolts…hurled into hell, he was unbeaten. 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Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. 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I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Be brave quotes > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. 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Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Sometimes I think I'm a nihilist because it doesn't matter, none of this matters. 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