--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid…" description: "\"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 found out about us. But every..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/tad-williams-2777_fear_we-tell-lies-when-we-are-afraid-afraid-o_178679.png" --- # We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't… ![“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 found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear grows stronger.” quote by Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/tad-williams-2777_fear_we-tell-lies-when-we-are-afraid-afraid-o_178679.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/tad-williams-2777_fear_we-tell-lies-when-we-are-afraid-afraid-o_178679.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/tad-williams-2777_fear_we-tell-lies-when-we-are-afraid-afraid-o_178679.png) > “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 found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that 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 stems from fear of the unknown, judgment, or exposure, and each lie reinforces that fear, making it harder to confront truth. **In simple terms:** Fear drives lies, and lies strengthen fear. Key Takeaway Face fears directly to reduce reliance on deception. Themes psychology integresty fear selfawareness growth Mood anxious thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace communication - public speaking - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias defense mechanisms trust erosion Questions to Reflect On - What fear is behind your most frequent lie? - How might honesty change the outcome of a stressful situation? A Different Perspective Lies can damage credibility and relationships, sometimes outweighing short‑term protection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Every time we tell a lie, the thing we fear grows stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/every-time-we-tell-a-lie-the-thing-we-fear-grows-stronger/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [Have you ever denied your feelings for someone because your fear of rejection is too hard to handle? We tell lies when we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-you-ever-denied-your-feelings-for-someone-because-your-fear-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She wants to fall in love with you but she's afraid of getting hurt, afraid of lies, and afraid she'll end up with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-wants-to-fall-in-love-with-you-but-she-s-afraid-of-getting-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Above all, avoid lying, especially lying to yourself. Keep watching out for your lies, watch for them every hour, every minute. Also avoid disgust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/above-all-avoid-lying-especially-lying-to-yourself-keep-watching-out/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [I do not tell lies. Mother used to say that this was because I was a good person. But it is not because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/i-do-not-tell-lies-mother-used-to-say-that-this-was-because-i-was-a/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [It's one thing to lie to ourselves. It's another thing to believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/it-s-one-thing-to-lie-to-ourselves-it-s-another-thing-to-believe-it/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [There are people who will say that this whole account is a lie, but a thing isn't necessarily a lie even if it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/there-are-people-who-will-say-that-this-whole-account-is-a-lie-but-a/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [For peace of mind, I will lie about any thing at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hempel/for-peace-of-mind-i-will-lie-about-any-thing-at-any-time/) [Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/) > [What is it with you people? You think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/what-is-it-with-you-people-you-think-not-getting-caught-in-a-lie-is/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [“a lie is the only thing that can remove us from our promise, the only thing that can separate us from the tangible experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clark/a-lie-is-the-only-thing-that-can-remove-us-from-our-promise-the-only/) [Jason Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clark/) > [“a thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer then the truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-wilson/a-thing-may-happen-and-be-a-total-lie-another-thing-may-not-happen-2/) [Leah Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-wilson/) > [“And the Latin quote across your heart? What does it mean?” “Lie about one thing, lie about it all...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gracia-williams/and-the-latin-quote-across-your-heart-what-does-it-mean-lie-about-one/) [Whitney Gracia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gracia-williams/) > [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 > [Buying a lie is one thing, giving it away for free is quite another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/buying-a-lie-is-one-thing-giving-it-away-for-free-is-quite-another/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) ## 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. A book, you see, is the only kind of trap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/a-piece-of-writing-is-a-trap-he-said-cheerily-and-the-best-kind-a/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“He shouldn't have had to die." "Nobody should have to die," Miriamele said slowly. "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/) > [“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/) > [“... those people who believe in previous lives always think they were dukes or queens or something, ignoring the fact that most people back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/those-people-who-believe-in-previous-lives-always-think-they-were/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) [Explore all 143 Tad Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. 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