--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time we tell a lie, the thing we…" description: "\"Every time we tell a lie, the thing we fear grows stronger.\" — Tad Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/tad-williams-2777_brutal-honesty_every-time-we-tell-a-lie-the-thing-we-fe_2803199.png" --- # Every time we tell a lie, the thing we fear grows stronger. ![“Every time we tell a lie, the thing we fear grows stronger.” quote by Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/tad-williams-2777_brutal-honesty_every-time-we-tell-a-lie-the-thing-we-fe_2803199.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/tad-williams-2777_brutal-honesty_every-time-we-tell-a-lie-the-thing-we-fe_2803199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/tad-williams-2777_brutal-honesty_every-time-we-tell-a-lie-the-thing-we-fe_2803199.png) > “Every time we tell a lie, the thing we fear grows stronger.” [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lying reinforces fear, making the feared outcome grow stronger. **In simple terms:** Lies feed fear. Key Takeaway Speak truth to diminish fear. Themes psychology truth fear Mood candid reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts self‑deception consequence growth Questions to Reflect On - What fears are amplified by your lies? - How can honesty break the cycle of fear? 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And if it grows very big, it probably happens.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scilla-elworthy/i-have-a-little-mantra-my-fear-grows-fat-on-the-energy-i-feed-it-and/) [Scilla Elworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scilla-elworthy/) > [If fear grows fat on the energy you feed it, you have to talk it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scilla-elworthy/if-fear-grows-fat-on-the-energy-you-feed-it-you-have-to-talk-it-down/) [Scilla Elworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scilla-elworthy/) > [“Blue Eyes…” He trailed his lips down one of her braids until he found the sweet curve of her neck. “Make a picture for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/blue-eyes-he-trailed-his-lips-down-one-of-her-braids-until-he-found/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [Fear looks both ways but still refuses to cross; fear looks twice and still doesn't leap. ... Fear usually arrives late, inevitably leaves early,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-barreca/fear-looks-both-ways-but-still-refuses-to-cross-fear-looks-twice-and/) [Gina Barreca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-barreca/) > [“Fear grows in darkness; if you think there's a bogeyman around, turn on the light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-thompson/fear-grows-in-darkness-if-you-think-there-s-a-bogeyman-around-turn-on/) [DOROTHY THOMPSON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-thompson/) > [Fear grows out of the things we think; it lives in our minds. Compassion grows out of the things we are, and lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-garrison/fear-grows-out-of-the-things-we-think-it-lives-in-our-minds/) [Barbara Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-garrison/) > [“The danger, when not seen, has the imperfect vagueness of human thought. The fear grows shadowy; and Imagination, the enemy of men, the father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-danger-when-not-seen-has-the-imperfect-vagueness-of-human-thought/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/a-thing-may-happen-and-be-a-total-lie-another-thing-may-not-happen/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [“Do you thinking not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?"--Robert Redford from the 1975 movie Three Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-grady/do-you-thinking-not-getting-caught-in-a-lie-is-the-same-thing-as/) [James Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-grady/) ## More by Tad Williams > [“That is what I hate about ruling and royalty, Simon. It is living, breathing people with whom a prince plays the games of statecraft.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/that-is-what-i-hate-about-ruling-and-royalty-simon-it-is-living/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“If we do not reach our hands will always be empty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/if-we-do-not-reach-our-hands-will-always-be-empty/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“Im Schlamm fing es an, wie so vieles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/im-schlamm-fing-es-an-wie-so-vieles/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“I'm tired of being lost and I'm tired of dying, so I'm going to try something different this time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/i-m-tired-of-being-lost-and-i-m-tired-of-dying-so-i-m-going-to-try/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“A piece of writing is a trap,” he said cheerily, “and the best kind. 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"Especially while they're still alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/he-shouldn-t-have-had-to-die-nobody-should-have-to-die-miriamele-said/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“Fear goes where it is invited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/fear-goes-where-it-is-invited/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“Because love does not do sums, but instead make choices, and then gives its all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/because-love-does-not-do-sums-but-instead-make-choices-and-then-gives/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [So we face our final hours...and all that was once certain has become uncertain. Except for defeat. That, as always, is the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/so-we-face-our-final-hours-and-all-that-was-once-certain-has-become/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“Go down." It seemed obvious. "You have to go down before you can come out - that's how these things always work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/go-down-it-seemed-obvious-you-have-to-go-down-before-you-can-come-out/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“We call darkness our friend, but when the elders tell us stories of the Garden, they talk of the holy, unending light that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/we-call-darkness-our-friend-but-when-the-elders-tell-us-stories-of/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [Never trust people that like to call things by initials, that's my philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/never-trust-people-that-like-to-call-things-by-initials-that-s-my/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/we-tell-lies-when-we-are-afraid-afraid-of-what-we-don-t-know-afraid/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“How can you care for a rough man like me?' he asked me. 'How can you love a man who can bring you no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/how-can-you-care-for-a-rough-man-like-me-he-asked-me-how-can-you-love/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“Piercing My Hearte there is A Golden Dagger; That is God Piercing God's Hearte there is a Golden Needle; That is me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/piercing-my-hearte-there-is-a-golden-dagger-that-is-god-piercing-god/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) [Explore all 143 Tad Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) ## More Brutal honesty quotes > [I think brutal honesty is extremely important. Don't be afraid of being up-front about your feelings and your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minka-kelly/i-think-brutal-honesty-is-extremely-important-don-t-be-afraid-of/) [Minka Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minka-kelly/) > [“I struggle to keep my hard, expressionless mask in place. The doctor's most powerful weapon has always been his particular brand of brutal honesty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-terrill/i-struggle-to-keep-my-hard-expressionless-mask-in-place-the-doctor-s/) [Cristin Terrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-terrill/) > [There's just something about brutal honesty that I appreciate so much. Rip my heart out with the truth. I don't care. Just keep it 100.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-just-something-about-brutal-honesty-that-i-appreciate-so-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Then the flash of the strobe. Give me sympathy. Flash. Give me brutal honesty. Flash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/then-the-flash-of-the-strobe-give-me-sympathy-flash-give-me-brutal/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I don't know if any of us are mature enough to handle the brutal honesty of what's inside other people's heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsters/i-don-t-know-if-any-of-us-are-mature-enough-to-handle-the-brutal/) [James Marsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsters/) > [The truth brings with it a great measure of absolution, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-laing/the-truth-brings-with-it-a-great-measure-of-absolution-always/) [R. D. Laing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-laing/) > [“He’s hidden behind lies and half-truths his entire life, so anytime he’s faced with brutal honesty, he runs. It’s just his nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/he-s-hidden-behind-lies-and-half-truths-his-entire-life-so-anytime-he/) [Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/) > [“You bring the stars, and I'll give you the moon. Plot holes in novels are like pot holes that damage your car. Don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hanson/you-bring-the-stars-and-i-ll-give-you-the-moon-plot-holes-in-novels/) [Jen Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hanson/) > [I rap about fighting back. I make it uncomfortable by putting details to it. 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That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-reintgen/do-you-want-the-good-news-or-the-bad-news-first-i-shrug-the-bad-news/) [Scott Reintgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-reintgen/) > [A lie will easily get you out of a scrape, and yet, strangely and beautifully, repute possesses you when you have taken the scrape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edward-montague/a-lie-will-easily-get-you-out-of-a-scrape-and-yet-strangely-and/) [Charles Edward Montague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edward-montague/) > [“If I were today on my deathbed, I would name my love of the color blue and making love with you as two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/if-i-were-today-on-my-deathbed-i-would-name-my-love-of-the-color-blue/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [“We particularly need to listen to older people and children. They all have stories to tell that enrich the mind and the heart. 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