--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When all lies, deceit, pretense is…" description: "\"When all lies, deceit, pretense is stripped away, what remains? The truth of a painting, or a book or a man.\" — William S. Burroughs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/william-s-burroughs-528_artist_when-all-lies-deceit-pretense-is-strippe_61083.png" --- # When all lies, deceit, pretense is stripped away, what… ![“When all lies, deceit, pretense is stripped away, what remains? The truth of a painting, or a book or a man.” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/william-s-burroughs-528_artist_when-all-lies-deceit-pretense-is-strippe_61083.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/william-s-burroughs-528_artist_when-all-lies-deceit-pretense-is-strippe_61083.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/william-s-burroughs-528_artist_when-all-lies-deceit-pretense-is-strippe_61083.png) > “When all lies, deceit, pretense is stripped away, what remains? The truth of a painting, or a book or a man.” [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When falsehoods are removed, only the essential reality of an artwork or a person persists. **In simple terms:** Essence emerges after deception is gone. Key Takeaway Truth is the core that survives pretense. Themes authenticity essence truth art identity Mood contemplative serene inquisitive Type philosophical reflective literary When to use this quote - art criticism - literary analysis - personal introspection - ethical evaluation Key Concepts perception representation Practical Applications - evaluating authenticity of creative works - assessing character integrity Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to see something without preconceptions? - How can we distinguish essential truth from superficial layers? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceit/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Lies Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies-deceit/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Pretense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretense/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [How people see the world is often a reflection of how they see themselves. 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Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-lieberman/) > [In the essence of truth lies deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/in-the-essence-of-truth-lies-deceit/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Anything is better than lies and deceit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/anything-is-better-than-lies-and-deceit/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Not every lies is a deceit, sometimes we have to lie to protects those we love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/not-every-lies-is-a-deceit-sometimes-we-have-to-lie-to-protects-those/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Drama, chaos, lies and deceit so if we were friends and no longer are friends, I'm done with you I'm never going back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drama-chaos-lies-and-deceit-so-if-we-were-friends-and-no-longer-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some of the most successful relationships are based on lies and deceit. 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Regret cannot observe customary obscenities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/well-as-one-judge-said-to-the-other-be-just-and-if-you-can-t-be-just/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say 'I want to see the manager.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/after-one-look-at-this-planet-any-visitor-from-outer-space-would-say/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [For seven days she lay in bed looking sullenly at the ceiling as though resenting the death she had cultivated for so many years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/for-seven-days-she-lay-in-bed-looking-sullenly-at-the-ceiling-as/) [William S. 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