“Before speaking, consult your inner-truth barometer, and resist the temptation to tell people only what they want to hear.”

“You don't want to go to war with a president [...] There's a temptation that you have to fight to tell the president what you think he wants to hear. I’ve seen really good people do that.”

Anthony Fauci (1940) American immunologist and head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

“Don't waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear.”

Paulo Coelho (1947) Brazilian lyricist and novelist

“A friend tells you what you want to hear; a best friend tells you the truth.”

Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) American actress, model, and singer

“The only thing I cannot resist is temptation.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

“You must let suffering speak, if you want to hear the truth”

Cornel West (1953) African-American philosopher and political/civil rights activist

“The elite are the men of religion, political leaders, media and press people, and teachers. Everyone can understand the truth and know what is right. These have the responsibility of showing this right and truth to the people. They should not remain silent…. It is the responsibility of people to look for right and truth. As they hear me now, they should not accept everything I say. Even the masses of Hezbollah and the resistance should not do so…. Forget what my faith is and what yours is. Hear what I say and see what I do and hear what others say and see what they do, and then decide.”

Hassan Nasrallah (1960) Secretary General of Hezbollah

“You can't make people listen to you. People only hear what they want to hear.”

Kieran Scott (1974) American writer

“The news isn't there to tell you what happened. It's there to tell you what it wants you to hear or what it thinks you want to hear.”

Joss Whedon (1964) American director, writer, and producer for television and film

“Any good demagogue is very courageously telling people exactly what they want to hear.”

Mike Murphy (political consultant) (1962) American political consultant