--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lying is a deliberate choice to mislead a…" description: "\"Lying is a deliberate choice to mislead a target without giving any notification of the intent to do so. There are two major forms of lying: concealmen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/paul-ekman-11999_choices_lying-is-a-deliberate-choice-to-mislead_2699608.jpg" --- # Lying is a deliberate choice to mislead a target without… ![“Lying is a deliberate choice to mislead a target without giving any notification of the intent to do so. There are two major forms of lying: concealment, leaving out true information; and falsification, or presenting false information as if it were true.” quote by Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/paul-ekman-11999_choices_lying-is-a-deliberate-choice-to-mislead_2699608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/paul-ekman-11999_choices_lying-is-a-deliberate-choice-to-mislead_2699608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/paul-ekman-11999_choices_lying-is-a-deliberate-choice-to-mislead_2699608.jpg) > “Lying is a deliberate choice to mislead a target without giving any notification of the intent to do so. There are two major forms of lying: concealment, leaving out true information; and falsification, or presenting false information as if it were true.” [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lying involves intentionally deceiving someone, either by withholding truth or presenting falsehoods as truth. **In simple terms:** Deliberate deception through omission or falsification. Key Takeaway Recognize and question hidden motives. Themes deception communication psychology Mood cautious analytical Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - negotiations - legal testimony - personal relationships - media analysis Key Concepts ethics cognitive bias social interaction Questions to Reflect On - What motives drive your omissions? - How do you verify information sources? A Different Perspective Lying can be rationalized as harmless, but it erodes trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Concealment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concealment/) [Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberate/) [False Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-information-510068/) [Falsification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsification/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Forms Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forms-lying-2722896/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying Concealment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-concealment-2722895/) [Lying Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-deliberate-2722894/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Mislead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mislead/) [Notifications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notifications/) [Presenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presenting/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [There are 869 different forms of lying, but only one of them has been squarely forbidden. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-are-869-different-forms-of-lying-but-only-one-of-them-has-been/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Some of those things come out and you don't know where they came from - somebody's leaking totally false information. They follow you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/some-of-those-things-come-out-and-you-don-t-know-where-they-came-from/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [“In addition, he and his subordinates have repeatedly, systematically and willfully provided Congress and the American people with false information about matters of grave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/in-addition-he-and-his-subordinates-have-repeatedly-systematically/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [I can understand pulling a book whose contents have been questioned - after all, false information has a way of sticking in your brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-konnikova/i-can-understand-pulling-a-book-whose-contents-have-been-questioned/) [Maria Konnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-konnikova/) > [I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest-ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-had-unknowingly-passed-along-false-information-and-five-of-the/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [At no time did I intend to, or do I believe that I did put forward false information to the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/at-no-time-did-i-intend-to-or-do-i-believe-that-i-did-put-forward/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I think that the Information Age is great, but there's a downside to it obviously as well, and it's that false information can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hopkins/i-think-that-the-information-age-is-great-but-there-s-a-downside-to/) [Josh Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hopkins/) > [The thing I hate about writers is they want to state their case and they use false information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/the-thing-i-hate-about-writers-is-they-want-to-state-their-case-and/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [It's easy to imagine an infinite number of situations where the government might legitimately give out false information,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-olson/it-s-easy-to-imagine-an-infinite-number-of-situations-where-the/) [Ted Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-olson/) > [When you give false information you tend to restrict the freedom of choice to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randal-marlin/when-you-give-false-information-you-tend-to-restrict-the-freedom-of/) [Randal Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randal-marlin/) > [The Internet is fast becoming a cesspool where false information thrives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/the-internet-is-fast-becoming-a-cesspool-where-false-information/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [In the digital age, it is easier than ever to publish false information, which is quickly shared and taken to be true - as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/in-the-digital-age-it-is-easier-than-ever-to-publish-false/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Put my phone on no notifications, therefore I am no longer purposefully ignoring people. I'm currently premeditating it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-my-phone-on-no-notifications-therefore-i-am-no-longer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Children's Safety Act will help protect children from the perpetrators of these vile crimes by strengthening notification requirements for sex offenders and increasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-walsh/the-children-s-safety-act-will-help-protect-children-from-the/) [James T. Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-walsh/) > [I love jazz. I still do. Dave Brubeck and Stan Getz are so good. I took a notification course in Jazz Orchestration. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-lightfoot/i-love-jazz-i-still-do-dave-brubeck-and-stan-getz-are-so-good-i-took/) [Gordon Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-lightfoot/) ## More by Paul Ekman > [“he is afraid of being falsely accused. Worried that if he looks afraid people will think he is a liar, he may try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/he-is-afraid-of-being-falsely-accused-worried-that-if-he-looks-afraid/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“3. When the behavior changes occur in relation to a specific topic or question, that tells the lie catcher this could be a hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/3-when-the-behavior-changes-occur-in-relation-to-a-specific-topic-or/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“There has never been a Supreme Court ruling on the admissibility of polygraph evidence in federal court.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/there-has-never-been-a-supreme-court-ruling-on-the-admissibility-of/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“For six weeks after the Normandy invasion the Germans persisted in their error, keeping many of their troops in readiness at Calais rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/for-six-weeks-after-the-normandy-invasion-the-germans-persisted-in/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“This distinction between believing-a-lie and disbelieving-the-truth is important because it forces attention to the twin dangers for the lie catcher. There is no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/this-distinction-between-believing-a-lie-and-disbelieving-the-truth/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“Sometimes one is better off misled. The host may be better off thinking the guest enjoyed himself; the wife happier believing that she can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/sometimes-one-is-better-off-misled-the-host-may-be-better-off/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [No important relationship survives if trust is totally lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/no-important-relationship-survives-if-trust-is-totally-lost/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [Crucial to how we feel is being aware of how we are feeling in the moment. The sine qua non of that is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/crucial-to-how-we-feel-is-being-aware-of-how-we-are-feeling-in-the/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [Most liars can fool most people most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/most-liars-can-fool-most-people-most-of-the-time/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“posture appropriate for a formal interview is not the posture assumed when talking with a friend. Posture seems well under control and successfully managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/posture-appropriate-for-a-formal-interview-is-not-the-posture-assumed/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“Although it is illegal in eighteen states, to ask employees to take the polygraph test, employers reportedly can find ways around those laws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/although-it-is-illegal-in-eighteen-states-to-ask-employees-to-take/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“The failure to remember is not a lie, although liars will often try to excuse their lies, once discovered, by claiming a memory failure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/the-failure-to-remember-is-not-a-lie-although-liars-will-often-try-to/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“President Reagan proposed further broadening the use of the polygraph test. All executive departments were authorized to “require employees to take a polygraph examination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/president-reagan-proposed-further-broadening-the-use-of-the-polygraph/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“I don’t give a shit what happens, I want you to stonewall it, let them plead the Fifth Amendment, or anything else, if it’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/i-don-t-give-a-shit-what-happens-i-want-you-to-stonewall-it-let-them/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) > [“The relevant framework is not one of morality but of survival. At every level, from brute camouflage to poetic vision, the linguistic capacity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ekman/the-relevant-framework-is-not-one-of-morality-but-of-survival-at/) [Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) [Explore all 57 Paul Ekman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ekman/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Lying is a deliberate choice to mislead a target without giving any notification of the intent to do so. 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