“They cannot afford to tell the truth. In some cases it must be admitted that at the moment they do not know what the truth is.”

— Arthur Ponsonby

Falsehood in Wartime (1928), Introduction
Context: Lying, as we all know, does not take place only in war-time. Man, it has been said, is not "a veridical animal," but his habit of lying is not nearly so extraordinary as his amazing readiness to believe. It is, indeed, because of human credulity that lies flourish. But in war-time the authoritative organization of lying is not sufficiently recognized. The deception of whole peoples is not a matter which can be lightly regarded.
A useful purpose can therefore be served in the interval of so-called peace by a warning which people can examine with dispassionate calm, that the authorities in each country do, and indeed must, resort to this practice in order, first, to justify themselves by depicting the enemy as an undiluted criminal; and secondly, to inflame popular passion sufficiently to secure recruits for the continuance of the struggle. They cannot afford to tell the truth. In some cases it must be admitted that at the moment they do not know what the truth is.

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Arthur Ponsonby 31

British Liberal and later Labour politician and pacifist 1871–1946

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“They cannot afford to tell the truth. In some cases it must be admitted that at the moment they do not know what the truth is.”

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Arthur Ponsonby 31

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