Circumstances Quote by William Shakespeare
“Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth; the Countercheck Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All these you may avoid but the Lie Direct; and you may avoid that too, with an If. . . . Your If is the only peace-maker; much virtue in If.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Tempest, Act III, Scene 2 (adapted)
Lies vary in subtlety; the indirect “if” can soften truth, but the direct lie is hardest to avoid.
In simple terms: Lies differ; “if” eases truth.
Key Takeaway
Choose honesty over clever deception.
Themes
truth
deception
communication
Mood
cautionary
thought‑provoking
Type
dramatic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- personal relationships
- legal testimony
- media reporting
Key Concepts
ethics
rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a conditional statement justified?
- Can indirect speech ever be ethical?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on conditional language can erode trust.
