--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fraud and falsehood only dread…" description: "\"Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/samuel-johnson-50_falsehood_fraud-and-falsehood-only-dread-examinati_2262132.png" --- # Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites… ![“Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/samuel-johnson-50_falsehood_fraud-and-falsehood-only-dread-examinati_2262132.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/samuel-johnson-50_falsehood_fraud-and-falsehood-only-dread-examinati_2262132.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/samuel-johnson-50_falsehood_fraud-and-falsehood-only-dread-examinati_2262132.png) > “Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Examination exposes fraud; truth welcomes scrutiny, revealing falsehoods. **In simple terms:** Truth invites testing, fraud fears it. Key Takeaway Test claims before accepting. Themes critical thinking integrity truth Mood analytical inquisitive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - debates - news consumption - scientific research - legal proceedings Key Concepts philosophy logic ethics Questions to Reflect On - What evidence do you demand before belief? - How can you balance healthy skepticism with openness? A Different Perspective Over‑testing can breed cynicism and distrust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraud/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Every politician, every member of the clerical profession, ought to incur the reasonable suspicion of being an interested supporter of false doctrines, who becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-cooper/every-politician-every-member-of-the-clerical-profession-ought-to/) Thomas Cooper > [Well, we know that eighteen years after that solemn declaration it was disregarded, and the Irish Parliament, which lasted for five hundred years, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edward-redmond/well-we-know-that-eighteen-years-after-that-solemn-declaration-it-was/) John Edward Redmond > [Even though Hubbard is dead, his business still repeats his lies, ... and in my opinion the proposed Act should also punish businesses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rice/even-though-hubbard-is-dead-his-business-still-repeats-his-lies-and/) David Rice > [For the moral attitudes of a people that is supported by religion need always aim at preserving and promoting the sanity and vitality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/for-the-moral-attitudes-of-a-people-that-is-supported-by-religion/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Like medieval theologians we had a philosophy that explained everything to us in advance, and everything that did not fit could be readily identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/like-medieval-theologians-we-had-a-philosophy-that-explained/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [ \[Middleton\] contended that the religious leaders of the fourth century had admitted, eulogised, and habitually acted upon principles that were diametrically opposed, not simply… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/middleton-contended-that-the-religious-leaders-of-the-fourth-century/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [As the greatest liar tells more truths than falsehoods, so may it be said of the worst man, that he does more good than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-the-greatest-liar-tells-more-truths-than-falsehoods-so-may-it-be/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentionally lying that there is so much falsehood in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-more-from-carelessness-about-truth-than-from-intentionally/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [None can be pleased without praise, and few can be praised without falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/none-can-be-pleased-without-praise-and-few-can-be-praised-without/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [In order that all men may be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it; for no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-order-that-all-men-may-be-taught-to-speak-truth-it-is-necessary/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge which cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/between-falsehood-and-useless-truth-there-is-little-difference-as/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Many falsehoods are passing into uncontradicted history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/many-falsehoods-are-passing-into-uncontradicted-history/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [We have now learned that rashness and imprudence will not be deterred from taking credit; let us try whether fraud and avarice may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-have-now-learned-that-rashness-and-imprudence-will-not-be-deterred/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Whoever commits a fraud is guilty not only of the particular injury to him who he deceives, but of the diminution of that confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/whoever-commits-a-fraud-is-guilty-not-only-of-the-particular-injury/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Falsehood quotes > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [falsehood is not more unjustifiable than unsafe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/falsehood-is-not-more-unjustifiable-than-unsafe/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tangible language, which often tells more falsehoods than truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tangible-language-which-often-tells-more-falsehoods-than-truths/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Whether statistics be an art or a science... or a scientific art, we concern ourselves little. It is the basis of social and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-quetelet/whether-statistics-be-an-art-or-a-science-or-a-scientific-art-we/) [Adolphe Quetelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-quetelet/) > [Falsehood, like the dry-rot, flourishes the more in proportion as air and light are excluded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/falsehood-like-the-dry-rot-flourishes-the-more-in-proportion-as-air/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [“God is not as a man.” He thus shows that all men are indeed guilty of falsehood, inasmuch as they change from one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/god-is-not-as-a-man-he-thus-shows-that-all-men-are-indeed-guilty-of/) The Church Fathers > [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-do-not-know-the-bible-well-have-been-gulled-into-thinking/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [One of the reasons, surely, why women have been credited with less perfect veracity than men is that the burden of conventional falsehood falls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-reasons-surely-why-women-have-been-credited-with-less/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He had the unlucky capacity many men have of seeing and believing in the possibility of goodness and truth, but of seeing the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-had-the-unlucky-capacity-many-men-have-of-seeing-and-believing-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Browse all 724 Falsehood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. 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