“At the outset the solemn asseverations of monarchs and leading statesmen in each nation that they did not want war must be placed on a par with the declarations of men who pour paraffin about a house knowing they are continually striking matches and yet assert they do not want a conflagration. This form of self-deception, which involved the deception of others, is fundamentally dishonest.”

“Nationalism is power-hunger tempered by self-deception.”

“We must look for consistency. Where there is a want of it we must suspect deception.”

“Food, clothing and shelter — these are the basic needs. Beyond that, if you want anything, it is the beginning of self-deception.”

“Absolutist statements about Islam being "fundamentally violent" are deceptive, because Muslims can and do choose to ignore or renounce the more violent aspects of their dogma -- just as Christians do. […] in the modern world, there are many, many Muslims who do not follow this version of Islam, who are decent human beings who want the same things other human beings want - peace, security, and a chance to succeed.”

“People always have been the foolish victims of deception and self-deception in politics, and they always will be until they have learnt to seek out the interests of some class or other behind all moral, religious, political and social phrases, declarations and promises.”

“People who believe that they are strong-willed and the masters of their destiny can only continue to believe this by becoming specialists in self-deception.”

“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.”

“The two biggest self-deceptions of all are that life has a 'meaning'and each of us is unique.”

“The instinct for self-deception in human beings makes them try to banish from their minds dangers of which at bottom they are perfectly aware by declaring them non-existent.”