Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Deception requires remembering many inconsistent details, which overwhelms human memory capacity.
In plain terms
Lying well is hard because you have to remember all your lies.
What can you take from it?
Honesty is easier to maintain than deception.

Where it applies

  • personal relationships
  • professional conduct
  • self-reflection

Putting it to work

  • practice transparency
  • avoid elaborate lies
  • keep records

Questions to consider

  • Why do we lie?
  • What happens when lies are exposed?

Another view

Small lies can be maintained with minimal memory effort.

More from Abraham Lincoln

  1. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

    Permalink to quote #121
  2. No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens.

    Permalink to quote #123
  3. Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

    Permalink to quote #120

Related quotes

  1. Let us not foist this humbug on the world.

    Hartley ShawcrossHartley Shawcross quote #3
  2. El encarecer es ramo de mentir.

    Baltasar GracianBaltasar Gracian quote #4
  3. A good liar must have a good memory. Kissinger is a stupendous liar with a remarkable memory.

    Christopher HitchensChristopher Hitchens quote #7