“The best lies are based on the
truth, at least in part”

— Cassandra Clare, book Clockwork Angel

Source: Clockwork Angel

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Cassandra Clare2041

American author 1973

P. C. Cast (1960) American writer

“Let the greatest part of the news thou hearest be the least part of what thou believest, lest the greater part of what thou believest be the least part of what is true. Where lies are easily admitted the father of lies will not easily be excluded.”

Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English poet

Enchiridion (1640)

“the worst part about being lied to is knowing you werent worth the truth”

Jean Paul Sartre (1905–1980) French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and …

“It seemed, at least, that they had not taught the boy to lie. But they had not taught him to know truth from lies.”

Ursula K. Le Guin Hainish Cycle

Source: Hainish Cycle, City of Illusions (1967), Chapter 8

“I did best when I had least truth for my subjects.”

John Donne (1572–1631) English poet

Source: The Complete Poetry and Selected Prose

“Lies don't fix things. They don't even make things easier, at least not in the long run. Best to tell the truth then clean up an honest mess" P. C. Cast ( Grandma Redbird)… So wish People would understand this!!”

P. C. Cast (1960) American writer

“The [Afghans] understand the difficult truth that their best hope of freedom lies in a temporary experience of imperial rule.”

Michael Ignatieff (1947) professor at Harvard Kennedy School and former Canadian politician

"Nation Building Lite", New York Times Magazine (July 2002)

“I believe that love of truth is the basis of all real virtue, and that virtues based upon lies can only do harm.”

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) logician, one of the first analytic philosophers and political activist

1920s, The Prospects of Industrial Civilization (1923)
Context: The governors of the world believe, and have always believed, that virtue can only be taught by teaching falsehood, and that any man who knew the truth would be wicked. I disbelieve this, absolutely and entirely. I believe that love of truth is the basis of all real virtue, and that virtues based upon lies can only do harm.