--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the problem is that you cannot just…" description: "\"But the problem is that you cannot just admit to something you haven't done; you need to deliver the details, which you can't when you haven't done any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/mohamedou-ould-slahi-11311_details_but-the-problem-is-that-you-cannot-just_2791548.jpg" --- # But the problem is that you cannot just admit to something… ![“But the problem is that you cannot just admit to something you haven't done; you need to deliver the details, which you can't when you haven't done anything. It's not just, Yes, I did!' No, it doesn't work that way: you have to make up a complete story that makes sense to the dumbest dummies.” quote by Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/mohamedou-ould-slahi-11311_details_but-the-problem-is-that-you-cannot-just_2791548.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/mohamedou-ould-slahi-11311_details_but-the-problem-is-that-you-cannot-just_2791548.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/mohamedou-ould-slahi-11311_details_but-the-problem-is-that-you-cannot-just_2791548.jpg) > “But the problem is that you cannot just admit to something you haven't done; you need to deliver the details, which you can't when you haven't done anything. It's not just, Yes, I did!' No, it doesn't work that way: you have to make up a complete story that makes sense to the dumbest dummies.” [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Admitting false claims requires fabricated details, which is impossible without experience. **In simple terms:** You cannot convincingly lie without knowledge. Key Takeaway Avoid fabricating expertise. Themes honesty credibility expertise Mood thoughtful cautious Type ethical practical When to use this quote - legal testimony - media interviews - academic presentations Key Concepts ethical communication knowledge gaps Questions to Reflect On - When is it acceptable to admit ignorance? - How can one acquire necessary details ethically? A Different Perspective Fabrication can damage reputation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [The original series of Watchmen is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC's reasons for this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gibbons/the-original-series-of-watchmen-is-the-complete-story-that-alan-moore/) [Dave Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gibbons/) > [It's not easy to tell a story about writers and make that feel like a complete story and an interesting story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kinnear/it-s-not-easy-to-tell-a-story-about-writers-and-make-that-feel-like-a/) [Greg Kinnear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kinnear/) > [“Of all the people around me, you know best that it takes two to complete a story; it always does”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/refaat-alareer/of-all-the-people-around-me-you-know-best-that-it-takes-two-to/) [Refaat Alareer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/refaat-alareer/) > [Part of my purpose in my books has been to tell the complete story of a relationship and a marriage, not just to end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/part-of-my-purpose-in-my-books-has-been-to-tell-the-complete-story-of/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“ And after he had succumbed the slavery and disclosed his opinion,He….." I'd like to give you the chance to complete the story ,but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-ayman-hussein/and-after-he-had-succumbed-the-slavery-and-disclosed-his-opinion-he-i/) Mohamed Ayman Hussein > [I feel 'The Night Circus' has a complete story arc in one book. I like it as a single volume. It feels complete to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-feel-the-night-circus-has-a-complete-story-arc-in-one-book-i-like/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [The blood's on the wall, so you'd might as well just admit it and bleach out the stains, commit to forgetting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamb-of-god/the-blood-s-on-the-wall-so-you-d-might-as-well-just-admit-it-and/) [Lamb Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamb-of-god/) > [You lying to yourself, just admit it. May not like the way I use it but you know you aint invent it boi!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/you-lying-to-yourself-just-admit-it-may-not-like-the-way-i-use-it-but/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [I got a problem with spending before I get it, we all self conscious I'm just the first to admit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-got-a-problem-with-spending-before-i-get-it-we-all-self-conscious-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think of you, I just can't talk to you right now. I miss you, I just can't admit right now. I need you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahleenzlie/i-think-of-you-i-just-can-t-talk-to-you-right-now-i-miss-you-i-just/) Sahleenzlie > [LOVE...If you love him/her, just admit it although you want to kill him/her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athmu22y/love-if-you-love-him-her-just-admit-it-although-you-want-to-kill-him/) [Athmu22y](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athmu22y/) > [You Talk It I Live Your Jealous Just Admit It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaya/you-talk-it-i-live-your-jealous-just-admit-it/) [Amaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaya/) > [Fuck the excuses, just admit that you fucked up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fuck-the-excuses-just-admit-that-you-fucked-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes you just have to admit that you are not Ms. wonder woman sometimes you just have to accept that you dont have enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missyrie/sometimes-you-just-have-to-admit-that-you-are-not-ms-wonder-woman/) Missyrie > [We all self-conscious. I'm just the first to admit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/we-all-self-conscious-i-m-just-the-first-to-admit-it/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) ## More by Mohamedou Ould Slahi > [Many nights I wake up not able to breathe. I think I'm in Guantanamo Bay. I'm crying and shouting and making it very hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/many-nights-i-wake-up-not-able-to-breathe-i-think-i-m-in-guantanamo/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [I don't have a problem with black people - half my country is black people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-black-people-half-my-country-is-black/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [No matter how bad you make the torture scenes, the reality was much worse. Because you cannot put on screen 70 days and nights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/no-matter-how-bad-you-make-the-torture-scenes-the-reality-was-much/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [Humiliation, sexual harassment, fear and starvation was the order of the day until around 10 P. M. Interrogators made sure that I had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/humiliation-sexual-harassment-fear-and-starvation-was-the-order-of/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [I'm afraid to apply for a visa to the U.S.A. because it's against terrorism in a very undemocratic way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-m-afraid-to-apply-for-a-visa-to-the-u-s-a-because-it-s-against/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [Writing is like driving a car. Writing the beats of a screenplay? It's like driving a rover on Mars. You have to be absolutely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/writing-is-like-driving-a-car-writing-the-beats-of-a-screenplay-it-s/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [I'm not looking to get even with anyone in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-m-not-looking-to-get-even-with-anyone-in-my-life/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [I'm threatened because of the amount of information I've provided to the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-m-threatened-because-of-the-amount-of-information-i-ve-provided-to/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [I believe the U.S. government owes it to the American people to tell them the truth about what is happening in Guantanamo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-believe-the-u-s-government-owes-it-to-the-american-people-to-tell/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [They dedicated the whole time until around Nov. 10, 2003 to questioning me about Canada and Sept. 11; they didn't ask me a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/they-dedicated-the-whole-time-until-around-nov-10-2003-to-questioning/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [The U.S. bet its last penny on violence as the magic solution for every problem, and so the country is losing friends every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/the-u-s-bet-its-last-penny-on-violence-as-the-magic-solution-for/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [I have only written what I experienced, what I saw, what I learned first-hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-have-only-written-what-i-experienced-what-i-saw-what-i-learned/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [I'm sure if there is a debate, Guantanamo Bay must be closed. And it should be closed, because it does not belong in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-m-sure-if-there-is-a-debate-guantanamo-bay-must-be-closed-and-it/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [How can I render uninterrupted interrogation that has been lasting the last 7 years? That's like asking Charlie Sheen how many women he dated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/how-can-i-render-uninterrupted-interrogation-that-has-been-lasting/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [There is no war between Muslims and Americans. There is no war between Americans and the poor people in the world. There is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/there-is-no-war-between-muslims-and-americans-there-is-no-war-between/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) [Explore all 60 Mohamedou Ould Slahi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) ## More Details quotes > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [The exact details of how you practice value investing will vary investor to investor, but the fundamental principle of scouring the world, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/the-exact-details-of-how-you-practice-value-investing-will-vary/) [Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/) > [The more I trust you, the less details I need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-i-trust-you-the-less-details-i-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [The first track is the end of a string. 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Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Our thoughts are either focused on what's eternal, life-changing, and true, or lost in the details of our temporary, selfish, false beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/our-thoughts-are-either-focused-on-what-s-eternal-life-changing-and/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [Just because someone thinks they remember something in detail, with confidence and with emotion, does not mean that it actually happened, .. False memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/just-because-someone-thinks-they-remember-something-in-detail-with/) [Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/) > [The Science Delusion is the belief that science already understands the nature of reality in principle leaving only the details to be filled in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sheldrake/the-science-delusion-is-the-belief-that-science-already-understands/) [Rupert Sheldrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sheldrake/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [It takes a little more time to get into the role, but not very much more. 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I follow dreams, take notes on travels, and engage in research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/i-get-worked-up-over-an-idea-or-the-ethos-of-an-idea-i-follow-dreams/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) > [We don't always know the details of our future. We do not know what lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-don-t-always-know-the-details-of-our-future-we-do-not-know-what/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) Browse all 2,442 Details quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But the problem is that you cannot just admit to something you haven't done; you need to deliver the details, which you can't when you haven't done anything. It's not just, Yes, I did!' 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