--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lying is a disgraceful vice, and one that…" description: "\"Lying is a disgraceful vice, and one that Plutarch paints in most disgraceful colors, when he says that it is \"affording testimony that one first despi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/michel-de-montaigne-142_abandoned_lying-is-a-disgraceful-vice-and-one-that_120724.jpg" --- # Lying is a disgraceful vice, and one that Plutarch paints… ![“Lying is a disgraceful vice, and one that Plutarch paints in most disgraceful colors, when he says that it is "affording testimony that one first despises God, and then fears men." It is not possible more happily to describe its horrible, disgusting, and abandoned nature; for can we imagine…” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/michel-de-montaigne-142_abandoned_lying-is-a-disgraceful-vice-and-one-that_120724.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/michel-de-montaigne-142_abandoned_lying-is-a-disgraceful-vice-and-one-that_120724.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/michel-de-montaigne-142_abandoned_lying-is-a-disgraceful-vice-and-one-that_120724.jpg) > “Lying is a disgraceful vice, and one that Plutarch paints in most disgraceful colors, when he says that it is "affording testimony that one first despises God, and then fears men." It is not possible more happily to describe its horrible, disgusting, and abandoned nature; for can we imagine anything more vile than to be cowards with regard to men, and brave with regard to God.” [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. Montaigne condemns lying as a cowardly act that betrays both divine and human trust, portraying it as a vile moral failure. **In simple terms:** Lying is a cowardly betrayal of God and people. Key Takeaway Honesty is a moral cornerstone. Themes ethics honesty vice morality Mood serious critical Type philosophical observation When to use this quote - legal testimony - journalism - personal relationships Key Concepts moral philosophy human nature Practical Applications - cultivate transparency in leadership - educate on integrity Questions to Reflect On - Why is lying considered a betrayal of higher principles? - Can any lie be justified ethically? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandoned/) [Affording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affording/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Despise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despise/) [Disgraceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgraceful/) [Disgraceful Vice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgraceful-vice-1408542/) [Disgusting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgusting/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying Disgraceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-disgraceful-1408540/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony/) [Testimony Despises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony-despises-1408541/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) ## Related quotes > [Lying is a most disgraceful vice; it first despises God, and then fears men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/lying-is-a-most-disgraceful-vice-it-first-despises-god-and-then-fears/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [When poverty is more disgraceful than even vice, is not morality cut to the quick?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/when-poverty-is-more-disgraceful-than-even-vice-is-not-morality-cut/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [There is indeed a certain sense of gratification when we do a good deed that gives us inward satisfaction, and a generous pride that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-is-indeed-a-certain-sense-of-gratification-when-we-do-a-good/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Seneca's virtue shows forth so live and vigorous in his writings, and the defense is so clear there against some of these imputations, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/seneca-s-virtue-shows-forth-so-live-and-vigorous-in-his-writings-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The worthiest man to be known, and for a pattern to be presented to the world, he is the man of whom we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-worthiest-man-to-be-known-and-for-a-pattern-to-be-presented-to/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Confidence in others' honesty is no light testimony of one's own integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/confidence-in-others-honesty-is-no-light-testimony-of-one-s-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Art is not a substitute religion: it is a religion (in the true sense of the word: 'binding back', 'binding' to the unknowable, transcending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-is-not-a-substitute-religion-it-is-a-religion-in-the-true-sense/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-the-duty-of-all-nations-to-acknowledge-the-providence-of-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The love of solitude, when cultivated in the morn of life, elevates the mind to a noble independence, but to acquire the advantages which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/the-love-of-solitude-when-cultivated-in-the-morn-of-life-elevates-the/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [An iron rod being placed on the outside of a building from the highest part continued down into the moist earth, in any direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/an-iron-rod-being-placed-on-the-outside-of-a-building-from-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [You have to be doing something you enjoy. That is a definition of happiness: Complete use of one's faculties along lines leading to excellence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/you-have-to-be-doing-something-you-enjoy-that-is-a-definition-of-2/) [Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/) > [Students who acquire large debts putting themselves through school are unlikely to think about changing society. When you trap people in a system of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/students-who-acquire-large-debts-putting-themselves-through-school/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [WHEREAS it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/whereas-it-is-the-duty-of-all-nations-to-acknowledge-the-providence/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Indifference to evil is more insidious than evil itself. It is a silent justification affording evil acceptability in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/indifference-to-evil-is-more-insidious-than-evil-itself-it-is-a/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) [Avis Bohlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avis-bohlen/) ## 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. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. 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