Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Being brutally honest is the best way to hide deception.
In plain terms
Telling the truth openly is the best way to look innocent.
What can you take from it?
Radical honesty can be a form of deception.

Where it applies

  • social strategy
  • manipulative tactics

Putting it to work

  • psychological insight
  • social analysis

Questions to consider

  • Can honesty be a lie?
  • How do you spot deceit?

Another view

It frames honesty as a tool for trickery rather than virtue.

More from William Congreve

  1. Though marriage makes man and wife one flesh, it leaves 'em still two fools.

    Permalink to quote #13
  2. Thou liar of the first magnitude.

    Permalink to quote #15
  3. Retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.

    Permalink to quote #12

Related quotes

  1. Frank and explicit; that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and to confuse the minds of others.

    Benjamin DisraeliBenjamin Disraeli quote #148
  2. He knew that bean's powers of analysis were extraordinary. So, also, were his powers of deception. Some of bean's guesses weren't right - but was that because …

    Orson Scott CardOrson Scott Card quote #267
  3. And it came into Hooch's mind that when both parties are lying and they both know the other party's lying, it comes powerful close to being the same thing as t…

    Orson Scott CardOrson Scott Card quote #1076