---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: when they were, in fact, lying. They were…"
description: "\"“when they were, in fact, lying. They were taken in by the false expressions and ignored the expressions that leaked the true feelings. When people lie..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/paul-ekman-11999_people-lie_when-they-were-in-fact-lying-they-were-t_1897873.jpg"
---

#  when they were, in fact, lying. They were taken in by the…

![“when they were, in fact, lying. They were taken in by the false expressions and ignored the expressions that leaked the true feelings. When people lie, their most evident, easy-to-see expressions, which people pay most attention to, are often the false ones. The subtle signs” quote by Paul Ekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/paul-ekman-11999_people-lie_when-they-were-in-fact-lying-they-were-t_1897873.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/paul-ekman-11999_people-lie_when-they-were-in-fact-lying-they-were-t_1897873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/paul-ekman-11999_people-lie_when-they-were-in-fact-lying-they-were-t_1897873.jpg)

> ““when they were, in fact, lying. They were taken in by the false expressions and ignored the expressions that leaked the true feelings. When people lie, their most evident, easy-to-see expressions, which people pay most attention to, are often the false ones. The subtle signs””

[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.

People often hide true feelings behind obvious expressions, while subtle cues reveal deception.

**In simple terms:** False expressions mask truth; subtle cues expose lies.

Key Takeaway

Pay attention to micro‑expressions.

Themes

psychology communication deception

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

educational insightful

When to use this quote

- interviews
- court testimony
- personal relationships
- negotiations

Key Concepts

micro‑expressions emotional honesty

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you improve noticing micro‑expressions?
- What situations make you rely on intuition over observation?

A Different Perspective

Subtle cues can be missed without training.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [People lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-lie/) [True feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-feelings/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

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