Of course I lie to people. But I lie altruistically - for our mutual good. The lie is the basic building block of good manners. That may seem mildly shocking to a moralist - but then what isn't?

Quote by Quentin Crisp

Topics: Lies Quotes

My mother protected me from the world and my father threatened me with it.

My mother protected me from the world and my father threatened me with it.

I don't hold with abroad and think that foreigners speak English when our backs are...

I don't hold with abroad and think that foreigners speak English when our backs are...

The poverty from which I have suffered could be diagnosed as Soho poverty. It comes...

The poverty from which I have suffered could be diagnosed as Soho poverty. It comes...

Euphemisms are not, as many young people think, useless verbiage for that which can and...

Euphemisms are not, as many young people think, useless verbiage for that which can and...

However low a man sinks he never reaches the level of the police.

However low a man sinks he never reaches the level of the police.

Sex is the last refuge of the miserable.

Sex is the last refuge of the miserable.

There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years...

There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years...

The law is simply expediency wearing a long white dress.

The law is simply expediency wearing a long white dress.

I recommend limiting one's involvement in other people's lives to a pleasantly scant minimum.

I recommend limiting one's involvement in other people's lives to a pleasantly scant minimum.

The very purpose of existence is to reconcile the glowing opinion we hold of ourselves...

The very purpose of existence is to reconcile the glowing opinion we hold of ourselves...

For an introvert his environment is himself and can never be subject to startling or...

For an introvert his environment is himself and can never be subject to startling or...

The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the...

The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the...

Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.

Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.

The consuming desire of most human beings is deliberately to plant their whole life in...

The consuming desire of most human beings is deliberately to plant their whole life in...

The war between the sexes is the only one in which both sides regularly sleep...

The war between the sexes is the only one in which both sides regularly sleep...

If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.

If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.

Is not the whole world a vast house of assignation of which the filing system...

Is not the whole world a vast house of assignation of which the filing system...

An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last installment missing.

An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last installment missing.

Decency must be an even more exhausting state to maintain than its opposite. Those who...

Decency must be an even more exhausting state to maintain than its opposite. Those who...

Health consists of having the same diseases as one's neighbors.

Health consists of having the same diseases as one's neighbors.