--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the situation seems to be exactly…" description: "\"“When the situation seems to be exactly what it appears to be, the closest likely alternative is that the situation has been completely faked; when fak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/paul-ekman-11999_strategy_when-the-situation-seems-to-be-exactly-w_1162250.jpg" --- # When the situation seems to be exactly what it appears to… ![“When the situation seems to be exactly what it appears to be, the closest likely alternative is that the situation has been completely faked; when fakery seems extremely evident, the next most probable possibility is that nothing fake is present.—Erving Goffman, Strategic Interaction” quote by Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/paul-ekman-11999_strategy_when-the-situation-seems-to-be-exactly-w_1162250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/paul-ekman-11999_strategy_when-the-situation-seems-to-be-exactly-w_1162250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/paul-ekman-11999_strategy_when-the-situation-seems-to-be-exactly-w_1162250.jpg) > ““When the situation seems to be exactly what it appears to be, the closest likely alternative is that the situation has been completely faked; when fakery seems extremely evident, the next most probable possibility is that nothing fake is present.—Erving Goffman, Strategic Interaction”” [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. The quote warns that apparent reality may be a deception; when evidence of fraud is obvious, the alternative is often that nothing is fake. **In simple terms:** Appearances can be deceptive; obvious fraud may hide deeper truth. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and investigate beyond surface clues. Themes perception truth deception analysis Mood critical analytical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - investigations - media analysis - interpersonal conflicts - policy making Key Concepts social psychology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would you need to confirm authenticity? - How do you balance skepticism with openness? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on obvious signs can blind us to subtler realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fakery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fakery/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) ## Related quotes > [Clinton's fakery was so deft and deeply ingrained that it was impossible to tell where it ended and the real Bill Clinton began. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-lowry/clinton-s-fakery-was-so-deft-and-deeply-ingrained-that-it-was/) [Rich Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-lowry/) > [Friends, both the imaginary ones you build for yourself out of phrases taken from a living writer, or real ones from college, and relatives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/friends-both-the-imaginary-ones-you-build-for-yourself-out-of-phrases/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [We heard stories about fakery and decoys at revivals. 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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. 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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. 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