“The tongue may hide the truth but the eyes—never!”

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.

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Do you have more details about the quote "The tongue may hide the truth but the eyes—never!" by Mikhail Bulgakov?
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Mikhail Bulgakov 63
Russian author primarily known for his novel "Master and Ma… 1891–1940

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