It's better to be quotable than to be honest.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People often prioritize saying things that sound impressive over saying things that are true.
- In plain terms
- Being memorable matters more than being truthful to some.
- What can you take from it?
- Honesty sometimes loses to style.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you value truth or style?
- When do you choose to be quotable?
Another view
Sometimes style is necessary to deliver truth effectively.
More from Tom Stoppard
It is not hard to understand modern art. If it hangs on a wall it's a painting, and if you can walk around it it's a sculpture.
Permalink to quote #63 It is better of course to know useless things than to know nothing.
Permalink to quote #65 If an idea's worth having once, it's worth having twice.
Permalink to quote #62
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