Business Quote by Samuel Johnson
“I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man for fear of alarming him; you have no business with consequences, you are to tell the truth.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Idler, 1759
One must always tell the truth to the sick, avoiding lies that could cause harm.
In simple terms: Always tell the truth to a sick person, even if it's hard.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize honesty over comfort in delicate situations.
Themes
ethics
truthfulness
caregiving
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- hospital visits
- patient counseling
- family discussions
- clinical training
Key Concepts
medical ethics
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it acceptable to with a truth?
- How do you balance honesty and compassion?
A Different Perspective
Truth may cause distress; sometimes compassionate omission is considered.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)