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Lies Quote by Rivka Galchen

“We need to develop a better descriptive vocabulary for lying, a taxonomy, a way to distinguish intentional lies from unintentional ones, and a way to distinguish the lies that the liar himself believes in – a way to signal those lies that could be more accurately described as dreams. Lies – they…” quote by Rivka Galchen
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““We need to develop a better descriptive vocabulary for lying, a taxonomy, a way to distinguish intentional lies from unintentional ones, and a way to distinguish the lies that the liar himself believes in – a way to signal those lies that could be more accurately described as dreams. Lies – they make for a tidy little psychological Doppler effect, tell us more about a liar than an undistorted self-report ever could.””

Rivka Galchen

About This Quote

Source Interview: The New Yorker, “The Art of Lying”, 2019

A nuanced language for lies helps reveal a liar’s intent, self‑deception, and subconscious narratives.

In simple terms: Distinguish types of lies to understand liars.

Key Takeaway

Create a taxonomy of deception.

Themes

psychology language ethics

Mood

analytical critical

Type

theoretical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • clinical assessment
  • literary analysis
  • personal introspection
  • media criticism

Key Concepts

taxonomy self‑deception perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we label unintentional deception?
  • What impact does labeling have on trust?
A Different Perspective

Lies can be rationalized, blurring truth and belief.

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