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 make for a tidy little psychological Doppler effect, tell us more about a liar than an undistorted self-report ever could.””
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.
Create a taxonomy of deception.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- clinical assessment
- literary analysis
- personal introspection
- media criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we label unintentional deception?
- What impact does labeling have on trust?
Lies can be rationalized, blurring truth and belief.