“There's one way to find out if a man is honest - ask him. If he says "yes" you know he is a crook.”

Last update May 15, 2026. History

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Groucho Marx117

American comedian 1890–1977

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“There's one way to find out if a man is honest: ask him; if he says yes, you know he's crooked.”

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“The first one has to do with whether a man knows what he is talking about, whether what he says has some basis or not. And my trick that I use is very easy. If you ask him intelligent questions — that is, penetrating, interested, honest, frank, direct questions on the subject, and no trick questions — then he quickly gets stuck. It is like a child asking naive questions. If you ask naive but relevant questions, then almost immediately the person doesn't know the answer, if he is an honest man.”

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“He finds it many times pleasanter,
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Iolo Goch (1320–1398) Welsh bard

Gwn mai digrifach ganwaith
Gantho, modd digyffro maith,
Gaffel, ni'm dawr heb fawr fai,
Yr aradr crwm a'r irai,
No phed fai, pan dorrai dwr.
Source: Y Llafurwr (The Labourer), Line 25.