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It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the-if he-if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not-that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement. : Now, if someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked me a question in the present tense, I would have said no. And it would have been completely true.

Bill Clinton#16

PoliticsDefinitionLanguageTruth

About this quote

What does it mean?
This statement argues that the truth value of a sentence depends on how words are defined, specifically regarding tense and meaning.
In plain terms
Whether a statement is true depends on how you define the words used in it.
What can you take from it?
Definitions matter when determining truth.

Where it applies

  • legal testimony
  • political debates
  • linguistic analysis

Putting it to work

  • Clarify definitions before arguing
  • Question ambiguous terms

Questions to consider

  • Can a statement be technically true but misleading?
  • How do definitions shape our perception of reality?

Another view

This approach can be seen as evading accountability by focusing on semantics over substance.

More from Bill Clinton

  1. No one wants to get this matter behind us more than I do-except maybe all the rest of the American people.

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  2. Indeed, I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a persona…

    Permalink to quote #17
  3. Next, we must help parents protect their children from the gravest health threat that they face -- an epidemic of teen smoking, spread by multimillion dollar m…

    Permalink to quote #14

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