
Ecclesiastes
1980s, Simulacra and Simulation (1981)
Book One in 'Nikanor Ivanovich's Dream', B/O
Variant: The tongue can conceal the truth, but the eyes never!
Source: The Master and Margarita (1967)
Context: The tongue can conceal the truth, but the eyes never! You're asked an unexpected question, you don't even flinch, it takes just a second to get yourself under control, you know just what you have to say to hide the truth, and you speak very convincingly, and nothing in your face twitches to give you away. But the truth, alas, has been disturbed by the question, and it rises up from the depths of your soul to flicker in your eyes and all is lost.
Ecclesiastes
1980s, Simulacra and Simulation (1981)
“They may veil their eyes, but they cannot hide
The sun’s meridian glow”
"Eternal Justice", Stanza 4
Legends of the Isles and Other Poems (1851)
Context: They may veil their eyes, but they cannot hide
The sun’s meridian glow;
The heel of a priest may tread thee down,
And a tyrant work thee woe:
But never a truth has been destroyed;
They may curse it, and call it crime;
Pervert and betray, or slander and slay
Its teachers for a time.
But the sunshine aye shall light the sky,
As round and round we run;
And the truth shall ever come uppermost,
And justice shall be done.
“He who has the truth at his heart need never fear the want of persuasion on his tongue.”
Volume III, chapter II, section 99.
The Stones of Venice (1853)
Source: The Stones of Venice: Volume I. The Foundations
“We need not hide anything from Truth, for it never condemns us, but only wishes to help.”
1500 Ways to Escape the Human Jungle
“Be slow of tongue and quick of eye.”
“To hide our eyes to make others believe we are hiding tears.”
“The eyes those silent tongues of Love.”
Source: Don Quixote de la Mancha (1605–1615), Part I, Book II, Ch. 3.