--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that anyone who claims to know…" description: "\"I believe that anyone who claims to know what's going on will lie about the little things too.\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/neil-gaiman-29_believe_i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know_3007575.jpg" --- # I believe that anyone who claims to know what's going on… ![“I believe that anyone who claims to know what's going on will lie about the little things too.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/neil-gaiman-29_believe_i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know_3007575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/neil-gaiman-29_believe_i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know_3007575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/neil-gaiman-29_believe_i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know_3007575.jpg) > “I believe that anyone who claims to know what's going on will lie about the little things too.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those claiming full knowledge will also lie about minor details, revealing inherent unreliability. **In simple terms:** Even experts can be deceptive. Key Takeaway Question authority, seek truth. Themes truth lie authority skepticism Mood skeptical inquisitive Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - media consumption - political discourse - personal relationships Key Concepts minor lies knowledge claims Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify information? - When to trust expertise? A Different Perspective May breed cynicism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Anybody who claims that they know where this whole thing is all going is just lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/anybody-who-claims-that-they-know-where-this-whole-thing-is-all-going/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [If you will lie about the little things, before long you’ll lie about bigger things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/if-you-will-lie-about-the-little-things-before-long-you-ll-lie-about/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Think again for the more someone claims to know, the less they generally do know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/think-again-for-the-more-someone-claims-to-know-the-less-they/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) > [I don't tend to lie. If I do, it's a little one. Like, 'I'm only around the corner...' when really I'm 10 minutes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-ferguson/i-don-t-tend-to-lie-if-i-do-it-s-a-little-one-like-i-m-only-around/) [Rebecca Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-ferguson/) > [Abe shook his head, and now the smile was gone altogether. "That's not the reason either. Don't lie to me little girl." I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/abe-shook-his-head-and-now-the-smile-was-gone-altogether-that-s-not/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Michael Flynn was forced to resign, we are told, because he told a big lie. But what about the little ones?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/michael-flynn-was-forced-to-resign-we-are-told-because-he-told-a-big/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [To lie a little is not possible: he who lies, lies the whole lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-lie-a-little-is-not-possible-he-who-lies-lies-the-whole-lie/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Do Not Lie. Every Little Lie You Lie Brings You Closer To Good- Bye...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-lie-every-little-lie-you-lie-brings-you-closer-to-good-bye/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [... the truth is exactly that which can't be got into words. We are forced to lie, a little or, if we are inferior, much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-jameson/the-truth-is-exactly-that-which-can-t-be-got-into-words-we-are-forced/) [Storm Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-jameson/) > [I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't snort, and I don't gamble. I do lie a little bit though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/i-don-t-smoke-i-don-t-drink-i-don-t-snort-and-i-don-t-gamble-i-do-lie/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [I lie very little and am a very straight-forward person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neena-gupta/i-lie-very-little-and-am-a-very-straight-forward-person/) [Neena Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neena-gupta/) > [Do not lie because every little lie you lie brings you closer to good bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/do-not-lie-because-every-little-lie-you-lie-brings-you-closer-to-good/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Novel-writing is a bit like deception. You lie as little as you possibly can. That's the way I do it, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-neill/novel-writing-is-a-bit-like-deception-you-lie-as-little-as-you/) [Joseph O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-neill/) > [You are allowed to lie a little, but you must never mislead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-halmos/you-are-allowed-to-lie-a-little-but-you-must-never-mislead/) [Paul Halmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-halmos/) > [If I catch you in a lie about the little things then how can I ever trust you about the big things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-i-catch-you-in-a-lie-about-the-little-things-then-how-can-i-ever/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that anyone who claims to know what's going on will lie about the little things too.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Gaiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know-what-s-going-on-will-lie/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know-what-s-going-on-will-lie/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/neil-gaiman-29_believe_i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know_3007575.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/neil-gaiman-29_believe_i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know_3007575.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/neil-gaiman-29_believe_i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know_3007575.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe that anyone who claims to know what's going on will lie about the little things too.” — Neil Gaiman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neil Gaiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe that anyone who claims...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know-what-s-going-on-will-lie/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-believe-that-anyone-who-claims-to-know-what-s-going-on-will-lie/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```