“That's what show business is--sincere insincerity.”
Benny Hill (1924–1992) English comedian and actor
Quoted in The Observer (12 June 1977)
Source: Organization and Management: Selected Papers (1948), p. 11
“That's what show business is--sincere insincerity.”
Benny Hill (1924–1992) English comedian and actor
Quoted in The Observer (12 June 1977)
“Too much honesty makes you sound insincere.”
Patrick Rothfuss book The Name of the Wind
Variant: Too much truth confuses the facts. Too much honesty makes you sound insincere
Source: The Name of the Wind (2007), Chapter 26, “Lanre Turned” (p. 203)
Context: “All stories are true,” Skarpi said. “But this one really happened, if that’s what you mean.” He took another slow drink, then smiled again, his bright eyes dancing. “More or less. You have to be a bit of a liar to tell a story the right way. Too much truth confuses the facts. Too much honesty makes you sound insincere.”
Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish philosopher, satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher
1840s, Heroes and Hero-Worship (1840), The Hero As King
Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher
Source: The Doctrine of the Mean
Derek Prince (1915–2003) British missionary
Maimónides book The Guide for the Perplexed
Source: Guide for the Perplexed (c. 1190), Part III, Ch.20
Neal Stephenson (1959) American science fiction writer
Source: The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer