Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies;
And sure he will; for wisdom never lies.

Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies;
And sure he will; for wisdom never lies.

So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not
to trust himself on the read more

So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not
to trust himself on the narrow edge.
[Lat., Ita enim finitima sunt falsa veris ut in praecipitem locum
non debeat se sapiens committere.]

He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced read more

He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.

But that he wrought so high the specious tale,
As manifested plainly 'twas a lie.
[Lat., Se read more

But that he wrought so high the specious tale,
As manifested plainly 'twas a lie.
[Lat., Se non volea pulir sua scusa tanto,
Che la facesse di menzogna rea.]

The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe.

The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe.

A man would rather have a hundred lies told of him than one truth which he does not wish should read more

A man would rather have a hundred lies told of him than one truth which he does not wish should be known.

When I err every one can see it, but not when I lie.
[Ger., Wenn ich irre kann es read more

When I err every one can see it, but not when I lie.
[Ger., Wenn ich irre kann es jeder bemerken; wenn ich luge,
nicht.]

There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it.

There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it.

And none speaks false, when there in none to hear.

And none speaks false, when there in none to hear.