c2p-cmd/Good-Quotes-Authors huggingface dataset:
Reflect who you truly are even when people try to tempt you to reflect the wrong image of yourself.
— Cyc Jouzy
I want a world where hearts are not deceived and do not deceive others.
— Naguib Mahfouz, Palace of Desire
The rule is easy to understand.Be simple, honest & smart.
— Prince Akwarandu
Tell the truth about any situation & you are delivered from lack of progress, but become hypocritical or lying, and you may be in bondage for life.
— Auliq-Ice
I resent being lied to because a lie doesn't only undermine the value of the truth, but it further denies the liar a fair chance for honesty.
— Gugu Mona
Courtrooms are battlegrounds where society’s bullies and the oppressed clash, where the victims of abusers seek recompense, and where parties cheated by scalawags seek retribution. Because of the high stakes involved, the parties are not always honest, and justice depends upon an array of factors including the prevailing case precedent, the skills of the legal advocates, and the merits of each party’s claims and counterclaims.
— Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls
Honesty is my true nature, but if people wants to use it that is their nature. - Abhinav Rajput
— Abhinav Rajput
Be wary of smooth talkers. Words are rarely at your disposal if something is wholly, truly, completely true.
— Joyce Rachelle
Look innocent. Have hope.” “Okay.” “And remember…” “What?” “Even O.J. Simpson was acquitted.
— Kenneth Eade, Killer.com
You cannot weave the truth from a string of lies
— Fred Munoz
half truths equal whole lies
— Fred Munoz
A partial truth is the most common path to an entire lie.
— Fred Munoz
Honesty is too strong a drink to be unwatered all the time
—  rather it should be given in doses.
It's shameful for a devil to be good.
— Ljupka Cvetanova, The New Land
When someone apologizes to you, be sure you know whether they’re sorry, or just scared.
— Clifford Cohen
As far as I know, I'm the most honest person I’ve met in this life.
— Pat R, Os Homens Nunca Saberão Nada Disto
Those who make uncritical observations or fraudulent claims lead us into error and deflect us from the major human goal of understanding how the world works. It is for this reason that playing fast and loose with the truth is a very serious matter.
— Carl Sagan, Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science
I have learned to accept the fact that I will make mistakes at nearly every turn, but that those mistakes can be softened if I am honest about who I am to my girls.
— Liane Holliday Willey, Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Expanded Edition
The more honest you are, the more open, the less fear you will have, because there's no anxiety about being exposed or revealed to others.
— Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness
Truth is such a rare thing it is delightful to tell it,
— Emily Dickinson
In a world in which everyone cheats, it's the honest man who passes for a charlatan.
— André Gide, The Counterfeiters
Love is being able to talk to someone else without effort, without hiding, and at the same time to feel absolutely comfortable not saying a word. At least that's one way I've figured out hot to describe love.
— Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer
When a man talks from the heart, in his moment of truth, he speaks poetry.
— Ray Bradbury
Next time someone tells you to smile for the camera, & you don’t feel like it—say no, thanks. Don’t fake your way into a happy-seeming life. Open vulnerable honesty is true positivity.
— Waylon H. Lewis
Take this wine glass for example. If I had poured milk into it and told you it was wine, would you be upset when you took the first sip, expecting the bite of fermented grapes and getting milk instead?”“I like milk.”Everett fought a smile. “I do too. But I also like to know what’s coming. It all boils down to control.
— Whitney Barbetti, Ten Below Zero
I am. I’m rude because I don’t conform to society’s standards that white lies are inconsequential. I don’t believe in hiding behind words that aren’t truthful. I’m an impatient man. I don’t beat around the bush. If you ask me something, I won’t lie to you.
— Whitney Barbetti, Ten Below Zero
Secrets, like tyrants, have influence that extends far beyond their own thrones. To silence their oppressive powers, they must be uncrowned.
— Ina Catrinescu
What is one common thing every one craves for? It is love... Love others unconditionally, honestly and truthfully. When you fill your being with love, you make yourself healthier and happier.
— Sanchita Pandey, Voyage to Happiness!
Just know that if you move forward with honesty, faith and love, everything will be alright.
— Brownell Landrum, A Chorus of Voices: DUET stories Volume III - Adult Version
Honesty is a quality Patrick likes. Give him a bitter pill if the situation demands it, but don't tell him it's chocolate.
— Leta Blake, Will & Patrick Wake Up Married
When I’m at the bottom looking up, the main question may not be ‘how do I get out of this hole?’ In reality, the main question might be ‘how do I get rid of the shovel that I used to dig it?
— Craig D. Lounsbrough, A View from the Front Porch: Encounters with Life and Jesus
The essence of true love is mutual recognition-two individuals seeing each other as they really are. We all know that the usual approach is to meet someone we like and put our best self forward, or even at times a false self, one we believe will be more appealing to the person we want to attract. When our real self appears in its entirety, when the good behavior becomes too much to maintain or the masks are taken away, disappointment comes. All too often individuals feel, after the fact-when feelings are hurt and hearts are broken-that it was a case of mistaken identity, that the loved one is a stranger. They saw what they wanted to see rather than what was really there.
— bell hooks, All About Love: New Visions
A spiritual relationship is not necessarily one in which two people are smiling all the time.  Spiritual means to be above all else, authentic.  Real work can only occur in the presence of rigorous honesty  We all long for that, but we're afraid of communicating honestly with another person because we think they'll leave us if they see who we really are.
— Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"
We get along like a house on fire these days.
— Rebecca McNutt, Shadowed Skies: The Third Smog City Novel
We must return to the first question of philosophy: "Do we want the truth?"We indict others when they ignore it or twist it to their own agendas. But do we honestly want the truth above all else, even when the truth will cost us, even when we must reverse our stance and run the risk of others' derision? Are we willing to radically change our lives in order to pursue it? Are we willing to change, to let go of lifelong, cherished, character-bound beliefs? Are we willing to pay?
— Daniel Ionson, And the Truth Shall Make You Flee: Confronting the Truth-Seekers' Fears and Failures
Meanwhile 1st April to lie as if they were honest throughout the year.
— Nabil TOUSSI
She felt that “truthful” and “honest” were two very different concepts. She could truthfully say that she hadn’t eaten Roselyn’s Chinese leftovers, but that wasn’t honest because it omitted that Eliot did and that Shane did not object.
— Thomm Quackenbush, Flies to Wanton Boys
My life of sin among people I’m sure he thinks are deviants is happier and more honest that his oppressive, sexist cesspool.
— Thomm Quackenbush, Flies to Wanton Boys
All a man can betray is his conscience.
— Joseph Conrad
A lie has no power, until you believe it.
— Shannon L. Alder
Truth is like a bright full moon in a dark country sky. Powerful, bright and undeniable. Lies are like clouds that continually try to cover that moon. Sometimes they might be able to cover the moon, but only temporarily. The truth will always outshine the clouds.
— Alex Haditaghi, Softly, As I Leave Her
Everything she sang was true. I will leave it to you as to whether the truth can exist with details omitted, or if those lacks make a lie of it.
— Robin Hobb, Fool's Quest
I was just trying to be a friend,' I said. 'But you weren’t, Charlie. At those times, you weren’t being his friend at all. Because you weren’t honest with him.
— Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
So, tomorrow, I'm leaving. And I'm not going to let that happen again with anyone else. I'm going to do what I want to do. I'm going to be who I really am. And I'm going to figure out what that is. But right now I'm here with you. And I want to know where you are, what you need, and what you want to do.
— Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The man who believes that honesty is the best policy is not an honest man.
— Paul  Hoffman
Thieves and liars kill indirectly, unintentionally, and with no other weapon than their tongues and malice.
— A.E.H. Veenman
Even if I am not the honestest type in the world I don't want to lie more than is average.
— Saul Bellow, The Adventures of Augie March
The author describes Lincoln's attitude in making a deal with a newspaper publisher as, "almost defiant transparency.
— Harold Holzer, Lincoln and the Power of the Press: The War for Public Opinion
Soup’s here,” Judd finally said after we watched each other for a few minutes. As I sipped the broth, Judd pretended to ignore me. I knew he wasn’t really watching television. His face was too perfectly stoic like he was working hard to make himself seem cold. “Do you want the rest?” I asked. Judd frowned at me. “If I wanted soup, I’d have ordered myself some. I’m not a dog begging for scraps.” Scowling at his ridiculous anger, I shrugged. “I don’t want to waste the rest. Can we put it in the mini fridge and I’ll eat it in the morning?” Judd’s frown eased. “Fuck it. I’ll eat it.” “No, it’s mine,” I said, standing up. “I offered and you got grumpy. Now, you can’t have it.” “I’ll just eat it after you go to sleep.” “I respect your honesty,” I said, setting the bowl into the little fridge next to the expensive treats. “It’s a rare quality in a thief.” Judd grinned.
— Bijou Hunter, Damaged and the Knight
Honesty is to truth as prow is to stern. Honesty appears first and truth appears last. The interval between varies in direct proportion to the size of ship. With anything of size, truth takes a long time in coming. Sometimes it only manifests itself posthumously.
— Haruki Murakami
God doesn't always bring you the entire truth. He sometimes gives it to you in pieces, in order to learn. Regardless, it is the piece that you got today that will renew your faith for tomorrow.
— Shannon L. Alder
You need one person who knows you... Just one person you can't fool, even when you fool yourself.
— Rebecca Scherm, Unbecoming
All that day she felt as if she were acting in a theatre with better actors than herself, and that her bad performance was spoiling the whole affair.
— Leo Tolstoy
- "It says in the brochure," said Arthur, pulling it out of his pocket and looking at it again, "that I can have a special prayer, individually tailored to me and my special needs." - "Oh, all right," said the old man. "Here's a prayer for you. Got a pencil?"- "Yes," said Arthur. - "It goes like this. Let's see now: "Protect me from knowing what I don't need to know. Protect me from even knowing that there are things to know that I don't know. Protect me from knowing that I decided not to know about the things that I decided not to know about. Amen." That's it. It's what you pray silently inside yourself anyway, so you may as well have it out in the open." - "Hmmm," said Arthur. "Well, thank you"- "There's another prayer that goes with it that's very Important," continued the old man, "so you'd better jot this down, too, just in case. You can never be too sure. "Lord, lord, lord. Protect me from the consequences of the above prayer. Amen." And that's it. Most of the trouble people get into in life comes from missing out that last part.
— Douglas Adams
But that was the least of it. He knew the worst of her, and that was better.
— Rebecca Scherm, Unbecoming
Always be truthful. When you lie to others, you are really lying to yourself.
— Batya Maman Sabag
The truth is an excruciatingly painful son of a bitch.
— Colleen Hoover
Brent never trusted anyone who couldn’t look him in the eye. It was a sign of dishonesty.
— Kenneth Eade, The Spy Files
When I say Be Perfect - it means BE AUTHENTICALLY YOURSELF in expressing your feelings, without any external interference!
— Ramana Pemmaraju
Knowing to do the right thing, but playing stupid to oblige to it, is still lying.
— Anthony Liccione
The truth is like sunlight: It causes cancer.
— J. Richard Singleton
Self-manipulation is our medication. Mythology is our drug. The only cure is honesty.
— Stefan Molyneux, Real-Time Relationships: The Logic of Love
Honesty is the most talked about, the most desired but, at same time, one of the rarest qualities in present day world.
— Abhishek Ratna, No Parking. No Halt. Success Non Stop!
Lincoln admitted his infirmities to make way for his spring.
— Richard Brookhiser, Founders' Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln
Honesty can be painful, but it's always better than bullshit.
— RC deWinter
The main advantage of being branded ashonest is that people do not fear you. They stop being jealous of you. And, most importantly, people will trust you with key information, important tasks and worthy projects.
— Abhishek Ratna, No Parking. No Halt. Success Non Stop!
In our effort to be honest about our problems, it is not necessary that we cease to be mindful of our potential.
— T.K. Coleman, Freedom Without Permission: How to Live Free in a World That Isn't
In each generation, there is this certain wisdom of the ages that gets reburied in the fleeting drivels of modernity; then, like a diamond in the rough, it is yet again unearthed by a very small minority who not only restores it, but also polishes it and presents it as something new, something highly valuable and refreshing as understood by the current.
— Criss Jami, Healology
Isn't that the tie Lily bought for your birthday?"Evan looked down to examine it. It was paisley, a kaleidoscope of color. "Yes it is, as a matter of fact. Good memory. What do you think? Too much?""It doesn't matter what I think.""But you don't like it.""I think that if you want to wear it, you should wear it."Evan seemed momentarily undecided. "Why do you do that?""Do what?""Refuse to answer a simple question.""Because my opinion is irrelevant. You should wear what you want.""Just tell me, okay?""I don't like your tie.""Really? Why not?""Because it's ugly.""It's not ugly."Colin nodded. "Okay.""You don't know what you're talking about.""Probably.""You don't even wear ties.""You're right.""So why do I care what you think?""I don't know."Evan scowled. "Talking to you can be infuriating, you know.""I know. You've said that before.""Of course I've said it before! Because it's true! Didn't we just talk about this the other night? You don't have to say whatever pops into your head.""But you asked.""Just ... Oh, forget it." He turned and started back toward the house. "I'll talk to you later, okay?""Where are you going?"Evan walked a couple of steps before answering without turning around. "To change my damn tie. And by the way Margolis was right. Your face still looks like it was run through a meat grinder."Colin smiled. "Hey, Evan!"Evan stopped and turned. "What?""Thanks.""For what?""For everything.""Yeah, yeah. You're just lucky I won't tell Lily what you said.""You can if you'd like. I already told her."Evan starred. "Of course you did.
— Nicholas Sparks, See Me
It has always been my contention that an individual who can be relied upon to be himself and to be honest unto himself can be relied upon in every other way.
— J. Paul Getty, How to Be Rich
If you know, say it, and if you don't know, be honest and say you don't know.
— Abhishek Ratna, No Parking. No Halt. Success Non Stop!
Don't ever be honest about who you are—and I mean that as a life rule, not just in this instance.
— Andrea Cremer, The Conjurer's Riddle
Truth is the old way. Truth dates back to the time when your word was your bond, and you didn't need papers in a language you couldn't understand to compel you to act honestly.
— Vanora Bennett, The People's Queen
A nation that is built on war will forever have conflict.
— Victor Dunsin
There's a different kind of beauty that comes with humility and honesty
— Kiera Cass
To love, you close your eyes. To do good, you deceive oneself. To be honest, you ditch oneself. To be good, you have to transcend all the three ideas.
— Harshit Walia
When the economy of a country is based fundamentally on the principles of truth and honesty, that nation experiences economic stability.
— Sunday Adelaja
It is possible to have a rather tranquil political atmosphere in any given nation. The secret is to put truth and honesty as the foundation of the political structure in that nation.
— Sunday Adelaja
Many people would fight against the idea that they are corrupt. While in the real sense, they are corrupt because they don’t live by the principles of honesty and truth.
— Sunday Adelaja
A country cannot change, be transformed or developed as long as there is no truth and honesty as an everyday principle among the citizens of the nation.
— Sunday Adelaja
If we in Nigeria and Africa generally are to experience a true national transformation, there must be numerous movements championing the cause for truth and honesty in every aspect of our daily affairs.
— Sunday Adelaja
When truth and honesty is absent in the nation, it relates not just to the politicians.
— Sunday Adelaja
There is a possibility of economic growth through honesty and truth.
— Sunday Adelaja
One of the greatest indicators of how much truth and honesty is in a country, is easily seen by observing how people drive around the city. What is their attitude to the rules of road safety? What is their attitude towards other commuters? Do they try to beat the system by all means? Do they try to get their way by hook or by crook, or they follow the rules? That is also part of corruption!
— Sunday Adelaja
Economic and financial conversion is actually attainable, thanks to this principle of truth and honesty.
— Sunday Adelaja
I believe that without strict enforcement of penalties for any offence violating the principles of truth and honesty, Nigeria and Africa will not be able to move from our present state of underdevelopment into civilization.
— Sunday Adelaja
Honesty is a very choosy virtue
— Bangambiki Habyarimana, The Great Pearl of Wisdom
True development only comes when the principles of truth and honesty have been successfully transmitted into the daily and everyday lifestyle of the people.
— Sunday Adelaja
The key challenge facing us today is to successfully transmit into daily and everyday lifestyle the principle of truth and honesty.
— Sunday Adelaja
If you see any country that is advanced and developed today, it is because that society is fundamentally based on principles of truth and honesty.
— Sunday Adelaja
Why do women use make-up? They know the world is a make-up
— Bangambiki Habyarimana, The Great Pearl of Wisdom
Truth is a fundamental principle that is needed for any form of building or construction. So also is honesty.
— Sunday Adelaja
Tiffany was on the whole quite a truthful person, but it seemed to her that there were times when things didn’t divide easily into ‘true’ and ‘false’, but instead could be ‘things that people needed to know at the moment’ and ‘things that they didn’t need to know at the moment’.
— Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men
Being the soothsayer of the tribe is a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
— Anthon St. Maarten
I’m a liar, but an honest one. People reproach me for not always telling the same story in the same way. But this happens because I’ve invented the whole tale from the start and it seems boring to me and unkind to other people to repeat myself.
— Federico Fellini, Fellini On Fellini
Vulnerability brings honesty. We become most honest with ourselves when we are faced with real fear around a situation or an outcome. Yet many still stay in their comfort zone, listening to their own excuses and lies.
— Tony Curl
Truth was a nasty bitch sometimes.
— Stacey Marie Brown, Darkness of Light
National transformation is also attainable through the simple principle of Truth and Honesty
— Sunday Adelaja
Honestly speaking honesty can sometimes land you in hot waters
— Bangambiki Habyarimana
Truth and honesty are some of the most powerful principles to developing a nation.
— Sunday Adelaja
If we succumb to fear, we start holding back, and do that all-to-common dance of getting close, then pulling away. When we remember that our safe harbor depends on our awareness and honesty, we're less likely to make internal compromises, put on masks, or act like a chameleon to attract a partner or keep a hurtful relationship together. If we live by truth, we may have pain, but we will always rest securely in ourselves.
— Charlotte Kasl, If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path
To be honest, as this world goes is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.Hamlet Act II, Scene II Lines 178-179
— William Shakespeare
It is not important what would you do for your love, what matters is what have you been doing for it.
— M.F. Moonzajer, LOVE, HATRED AND MADNESS
He only knows a single thing to clasp, that like God can't be split up into pieces: our honesty to one another.
— Bryn  Hammond, Amgalant Two: Tribal Brawls
I grew up on magical stories that had me looking around corners for something magical for years. But this isn't just saying a spell or waving a wand. There isn't one evil person leading an army, but a whole other world that wants to invade us with other beings from other realms. And there are only six mages, not an entire hidden subculture to turn to. It just hasn't been what I imagined and I suck at it." –Alex Adams
— J.M.  Briggs, The Iron Realm
How often in our lives have we withheld the truth from someone we’re supposed to love? We justify it by telling ourselves we’re doing them some kindness, when in reality, we’re just being selfish. We don’t want them to know the truth because if they did, well, they might not love us anymore. How many of us have ever felt that no one would love us if they knew the real us? Love bears all things, the Bible tells us. The truth is, everyone who really loves you can bear the real you.
— Erin O'Riordan, Cut
Who taught you how to discern the Truth? Was it a big liar or a little liar or no liar at all? We cannot expect honesty from those we deal with if we don’t even know how to tell when we’re being lied to.
— A. Antares
Sincerity is not part of the political vocabulary. If it is used or implied bells should ring
— Bangambiki Habyarimana, The Great Pearl of Wisdom
One of the secrets a nation can unlock to have material wealth is, having a leader who will take an uncompromising stand to establish truth and honesty as a rule of building the nation
— Sunday Adelaja
The adult author finds that by inadvertently violating the school's alcohol policy, she breaks down some part of the barrier between her and the younger students who are subject to more rules.
— Rebekah Nathan, My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student
Don't thank me for telling the truth when it would have been mercy to lie to you.
— Marissa Meyer, Scarlet
In a nutshell, I am not unaware of my failings. Neither am I a stranger to irony.
— Mordecai Richler, Barney's Version
From what I’d witnessed, honesty didn’t really make anyone happy. The truth was a punch to the gut, and while you were falling, a knee to the face, then you could lie on the floor and bleed for a spell.
— Tanya Thompson, Assuming Names: A Con Artist's Masquerade
Stolen pleasures are always more thrilling than those come by honestly.
— Ann Leary, The Good House
This is not about jealousy. It's all about loyalty, honesty and respect.
— Pravinee Hurbungs
It's funny
—  sometimes you learn the most from watching people display their worst.
Lies can't grow. Once plucked they can only wither. But every truth, once planted, grows into a tall, noble tree. 
— Stefan Emunds
But the truth is, nothing delights me more than a biography of one of the truly great that proves he or she was an absolute shit.
— Mordecai Richler, Barney's Version
Oh, yes he does. He's a scientist, and they know everything. Religion is crap," declared Listen."You're the most obnoxious little brat I've ever met.""Both of you be quiet,
— Nancy Farmer, The Lord of Opium
Nations, like men, are wary of truth, for truth is too often not beautiful.
— Addison Gayle Jr.
If a ruler who wants to act honourably is surrounded by unscrupulous men, his downfall is inevitable.
— C.J. Sansom, Dissolution
To receive the compliments of being a good writer really annoys me, as this has been my perception that a writer as such has no value, it is the readers who invest their thought process, give life to dead words, coupled with their own imagination, thus syncing the content to their tastes and sensibilities, that matter.
— Ramana Pemmaraju
I think I sense a tone of honesty, if honesty exists in this world.
— Emilyann Girdner, The Labyrinth Wall
I scrutinized his face for honesty and then looked away. He was either a lunatic, a really good liar, or he was actually telling the truth.
— Amy Astorga, Waters of Change
She'd never tolerated deception regarding her strong opinions--that much was true. But wasn't it also true that when it came to trying to please in matters that weren't crucial to her, that didn't compromise her sense of things, she had been dishonest?
— Natalia Sanmartín Fenollera
No matter how unattractive your job is, once you are earning with honesty and dignity you need not care what people think of you in your work uniform.
— moolesh.k.dindoyal
I will blame no enemy that is a good man, nor yet praise a friend that is bad
— Theognis
You can make the world beautiful just by refusing to lie about it.
— pleasefindthis, I Wrote This For You
Dad?""What?" A small bird rises from a tree in front of us."What should I be when I grow up?"The bird disappears over a far ridge. I don't know what to say. "Honest," I finally say.
— Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
Hollow Horn Bear knew that to be leader and adviser of his people he must be honest and reliable, and that his word once given in promise must never be taken back. He knew that he must be a man of will-power, standing for the right no matter what happened to him personally; that he must have strength of purpose, allowing no influence to turn him from doing what was best for the tribe. He must be willing to serve his people without thought of pay. He must be utterly unselfish and kind-hearted to the old and poor and stand ready to give to those in need. Above all, he must be unafraid to deal equal justice to all.
— Luther Standing Bear, My Indian Boyhood
Never hesitate to tell the truth as you see it.
— Marty Rubin
The only difference between writers and people who don't write is that writers aren't afraid to display their demons.
— Carla H. Krueger
Clare's been called a lot of things- smart and funny, driven and talented- but memorable certainly isn't one of them. The most important things about her- the ones she's most proud of- are apparent only once you get to know her.
— Jennifer E. Smith, Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between
Definitions from Mulla Do-PiazaTruthful man:He who is, secretly, regarded by everyone as an enemy.
— Idries Shah, Caravan of Dreams
But for her there was no possibility of a clear conscience, merely the weak absolution of honesty, of confession.She could not buy into the cycle of sin and penance. She would always remember what she had done, and it would always sting. She would not be washed clean.
— Sonja Yoerg, The Middle of Somewhere
Sometimes you don't let us talk about how we're feeling. If we feel scared, you say, 'Nothing to worry about, guys,' but that doesn't make it go away. It makes it grow.
— Melina Marchetta, Saving Francesca
A lot of lip service gets paid to being honest, but no one really wants to hear it unless what's being said is the party line.
— Colin Quinn
It is not possible to know how far the influence of any amiable, honest-hearted duty-doing man flies out into the world, but it is very possible to know how it has touched one's self in going by, and I know right well that any good that intermixed itself with my apprenticeship came of plain contented Joe, and not of restlessly aspiring discontented me.
— Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Relationships like this are built on honesty and trust. If you don't trust me-trust me to know how I'm affecting you, how far I can go with you, how far I can take you-if you can't be honest with me, then we really can't do this.
— E.L. James, Grey
The thing you do with a boy it is to show him all the to show. Don't hold nothing back.
— Flannery O'Connor, A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories
Adopting the language of a pretense only serves to ease participation in it.
— Bartok, Last Knights
Wear your heart on your sleeve. Write about what you think and feel. And share it with your friends.
— Fennel Hudson, A Writer's Year - Fennel's Journal - No. 3
Confessions are meant to reveal universal truths through specific examples.
— Yishai Schwartz
Let's tell the truth. Mr. Reagan will raise taxes, and so will I. He won't tell you. I just did.
— Walter Mondale
Spending some time alone is a therapy that most of us don’t know how to practice. You need a little time alone every now and then to know what you are made of, to know and to do what you really like and to actually like yourself.
— Mohamed Ghazi, Honest
Obi-Wan's young face clouded. "Some secrets are best left concealed, Master." He shook his head. "Besides, why must you always be the one to do the uncovering? You know how the Council feels about these... detours. Perhaps, just once, the uncovering should be left to someone else."Qui-Gon looked suddenly sad. "No, Obi-Wan. Secrets must be exposed when found. Detours must be taken when encountered. And if you are the one who stands at the crossroads or the place of concealment, you must never leave it to another to act in your place.
— Terry Brooks, Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace
I think the world honestly would be a much healthier place if instead of trying to find rationalizations for our bad behavior we would just say, "I was an asshole. Sure, there were reasons behind it, but that doesn't matter.
— Colin Quinn, The Coloring Book: A Comedian Solves Race Relations in America
Honesty is the only way with anyone, when you’ll be so close as to be living inside each other’s skins.
— Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign
Honesty has a power that very few people can handle
— Steven Aitchison
I should stitch my mouth shut. Honesty is a compulsion that’s damned me more than once. But I just can’t hold it in anymore. The words build and explode out of me like an uncontainable sneeze.
— Isaac Marion, Warm Bodies
It’s the simplest things that can convey a message….
— Peter Cimino, The Four Corners, a Sicilian Story
The truth ain't pretty. That's how you can identify it.
— The Unit
I want you to be honest with me. Even if it hurts. Although I would prefer for it not to hurt. - A
— David Levithan, Every Day
The truth is never dressed for the occasion.
— Steve Maraboli
I am reminded of yet one more reason why I avoid children, why I have remained intentionally childless. Children make ruthless biographers and terrifying judges.
— Kyo Maclear, Stray Love
The smart employer looks not for perfection but for an explanation of how the consequences of a dishonorable act affected the candidate and others.
— Bruce Weinstein
Find a strong glue and stick yourself to honesty! You shall feel like a wind, so light and so free!
— Mehmet Murat ildan
That's the first rule of survival in enemy waters: volunteer nothing.
— James Clavell
What American would not want truthful and complete information about every product sold in the United States so that we can be more capable of making wise decisions concerning our lives and the lives of our loved ones? These are our friends and our family members suffering from so many forms of cancer, several diseases of the heart, emphysema, poor circulation, blindness, strokes, various skin disorders, bad breath, asthma, poverty, clogged arteries, disfigurement, rotting teeth and gums, birth defects, infertility, sexual dysfunction, high blood pressure, aneurysms, complications during pregnancies, and all too often a slow and painful death. These suffering people are also many of us.
— Earl Chinnici, Maybe You Should Move Those Away From You
He was right: not about her playing him, or about her laughing at him, but certainly about her carelessness, about her casual disregard for how he would feel if he found out, and about the stunning lack of depth it exposed in her character.
— Michael  Callahan, Searching for Grace Kelly
I'm glad she's not faking affection. It's more honest than what her husband is doing, at least. Dislike is an emotion I can respect.
— Amy Engel, The Book of Ivy
Deep love is no inusual nowadays. It's just for a few brave those understand it's an everydat's journey, fed it with respect, honesty, faith and lots of laugh.
— SoyLaAzu
The great man will come when all of us are feeling great, not when all of us are feeling small. He will ride in at some splendid moment when we all feel that we could do without him."We are then able to answer in some manner the question, "Why have we no great men?" We have no great men chiefly because we are always looking for them. We are connoisseurs of greatness, and connoisseurs can never be great; we are fastidious, that is, we are small."When Diogenes went about with a lantern looking for an honest man, I am afraid he had very little time to be honest himself And when anybody goes about on his hands and knees looking for a great man to worship, he is making sure that one man at any rate shall not be great."Now, the error of Diogenes is evident. The error of Diogenes lay in the fact that he omitted to notice that every man is both an honest man and a dishonest man. Diogenes looked for his honest man inside every crypt and cavern; but he never thought of looking inside the thief.
— G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens
Darling, you know and I know that everything is straight between us at last beyond the furthest abstract definition in metaphysical terms or any terms you want to specify or sweetly impose or harken back.
— John Kerouac
Honesty defines self respect.
— Unarine Ramaru
A make believe life doesn't win friends and influence people. It bores the crap out of those living the dream.
— Melody Carstairs
But may the truth be told. May the true self may be found. May the truth rule the world more than ever. How easy life will be if everyone is just true to themselves, true to their words, true to their actions and true to life?
— Diana Rose Morcilla
People seem to overlook an old man losing his mind if he occasionally made light of it.
— Marissa Meyer, Cinder
If you want to be a good parent then be a great leader. You should live a life with passion for someone and something. The legacy you leave your children shouldn't be how you suffered in gratitude for a life you had no passion for. Rather, it should be how grateful you are to a God that believes fairytales can come true because they came true for you.
— Shannon L. Alder
From whomsoever one hears anything, it is wisdom to understand the true import of it.
— Thiruvalluvar, Thirukkural
Truth, most succinctly defined is: That Which Is So. Non-Truth, most succinctly defined is: That Which Is Not So.
— Donald L. Hicks, Look into the stillness
Lies are like paper-Mache in a rain storm.
— Craig D. Lounsbrough, Flecks of Gold on a Path of Stone: Simple Truths for Life's Complex Journey
Once dishonesty is introduced, distrust becomes the hallmark of future dealings or associations.
— Jon M. Huntsman Sr., Winners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times
Honesty is the only trick to not trick anyone.
— Shawn Lukas
If you cannot find a soul mate, at least find a foul mate
— M.F. Moonzajer, LOVE, HATRED AND MADNESS
You can say no if that is more truthful than a resentful yes.
— Judith Lasater
I am proud to say that I am not in it for the money. If I made a million dollars, I would donate most of it to various charities and libraries.
— Selena I. R. Drake, Dragon Diaries: The Return of the Dragon Keepers
Maturity is when you're able to say, 'It's not just them. It's me.
— Criss Jami, Healology
Honesty. Sobriety. My virginity. No way to regain  the first two, I almost gave away the last.
— Ellen Hopkins, Burned
Blame is the lie by which we convince ourselves that we are victims. It is the lie that robs us of our serenity, our generosity, our confidence, an our delight in life . . . For it is the act of blaming that can't co-exist with self-responsibility -- or with freedom from inner agitation and strained relationships. Abandon the practice of blaming, and we see the fear melt away that we have associated with being honest about ourselves and taking the full measure of responsibility for our emotional and spiritual condition.
— C. Terry Warner
Secrets are lies by another name.
— Michael Morpurgo
The smallest grain of natural honesty and benevolence has more effect on men’s conduct, than the most pompous views suggested by theological theories and systems.
— Cecilia Grant, A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong
being honest to the people around you is the best thing you ever do to them,but expecting the same from them is the worst thing you ever do to yourself
— Anonymous
I am the false character that follows the name around.
— Don DeLillo, White Noise
I'll only tell you what matters. And, the truth is, everything matters.
— Crystal Woods, Write like no one is reading
You can't do a good deal with a bad guy. The dishonesty tax is too high and is not something you will factor into your side of the equation.
— Chet Billingsley
Imagine if we had no secrets, no respite from the truth. What if everything was laid bare the moment we introduced ourselves?
— Catherine Doyle, Vendetta
You did listen." He sat back, nodding his head. "Okay, then. Now tell me what you really thought.""I told you. It was interesting.""Interesting," he said, "is not a word.""Since when?""It's a placeholder. Something you use when you don't want to say something else." He leaned a little closer to me. "Look, if you're worried about my feelings, don't be. You can say whatever you want. I won't be offended.""I did. I liked it.""Tell the truth. Say something. Anything. Just spit it out.""I—" I began, then stopped myself. Maybe it was the fact that he was so clearly on to me. Or my sudden awareness of how rarely I was honest. Either way, I broke. "I… I didn't like it," I said.He slapped his leg. "I knew it! You know, for someone who lies a lot, you're not very good at it."This was a good thing. Or not? I wasn't sure. "I'm not a liar," I said."Right. You're nice," he said."What's wrong with nice?""Nothing. Except it usually involves not telling the truth," he replied. "Now. Tell me what you really thought.
— Sarah Dessen, Just Listen
Guilt is a lazy feeling that takes no action
—  the wings of integrity are the only thing that sets it free.
Communication works best when we combine appropriateness with authenticity, finding that sweet spot where opinions are not brutally honest but delicately honest.
— Sheryl Sandberg
An honest man speaks truth, don't expect him to speak sweet.
— Amit Kalantri
An honest man is a debtless man, he doesn't owe anyone anything.
— Amit Kalantri
Embrace the magical gift of serenity in your daily life. Nothing beats patience, humility, honesty and tranquility.
— Angelica Hopes, Landscapes of a Heart, Whispers of a Soul
She made him feel guilty at times. The problem was that she was so honest herself, almost transparent. It seemed criminal to be deceiving her.
— Emily Arden, Lie to me: Deception: Book Two
... honesty is like seeing a crackhead up close: it ain’t that fucking attractive.
— Eric Jerome Dickey, Liar's Game
Life is energy, give others the energy you want to receive from others!
— Stan The Man SA
Honesty is the best insurance policy.
— Brian Spellman
How often do we listen and act to the call of honesty, serenity, humility and generosity?How many "soft pillows" do we use for a life time?If only everyone uses a "soft pillow," then what a better world it could be to have many genuine hearts.
— Angelica Hopes, Landscapes of a Heart, Whispers of a Soul
I had the good fortune and opportunity to come home and to tell the truth; many soldiers, like Pat Tillman… did not have that opportunity. The truth of war is not always easy. The truth is always more heroic than the hype.
— Jessica Lynch
By the river of forgetfulness, I found honesty.
— Kristian Goldmund Aumann
What has to do with your ability to fall asleep is not caffeine. It’s having a clean conscience. I have a clean conscience so I can drink all the caffeine I want.
— Bob Barr
Carry on an undefiled undertaking.
— Angelica Hopes, Rhythm of a Heart, Music of a Soul
We live in a world full of duplicity.We are surrounded by people with duplicitous nature.They will be shooting arrows to question our honesty at every step we make.Therefore,it is our duty to protect ourselves by using our integrity as an armor and march forward, victoriously.
— Indy Bissessur
You don't have to pretend with me, you know.' He reaches out and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. His expression is so open and honest I feel it like a sucker punch. 'I used to pretend, all the time, so I can spot it a mile away. If you're feeling shit, then just say so. I don't need to know the reason, it might be none of my business—' 'I'm feeling shit.
— Ellie Marney, Every Breath
I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your majesty according to my bond
—  no more no less.
I had kissed my share of men, particularly during the war years, when flirtation and instant romance were the light-minded companions of death and uncertainty. Jamie, thought, was something different. His extreme gentleness was in no way tentative; rather it was a promise of power known and held in leash; a challenge and a provocation the more remarkable for its lack of demand. I am yours, it said. And if you will have me, then..
— Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
Presidents lie all the time. Really great presidents lie. Abraham Lincoln managed to end slavery in America partially by deception. (In an 1858 debate, he flatly insisted that he had no intention of abolishing slavery in states where it was already legal — he had to say this in order to slow the tide of secession.) Franklin Roosevelt lied about the U.S. position of neutrality until we entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Though the public and Congress believed his public pledge of impartiality, he was already working in secret with Winston Churchill and selling arms to France.) Ronald Reagan lied about Iran-Contra so much that it now seems like he was honestly confused. Politically, the practice of lying is essential. By the time the Lewinsky story broke, Clinton had already lied about many, many things. (He’d openly lied about his level of commitment to gay rights during the ’92 campaign.) The presidency is not a job for an honest man. It’s way too complex. If honesty drove the electoral process, Jimmy Carter would have served two terms and the 2008 presidential race would have been a dead heat between Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich.
— Chuck Klosterman
What gets me about the United States is that it pretends to be honest and therefore has so little room to move toward hope.
— Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches
There is a difference between speaking the truth in love and judging someone hypocritically...make sure you know the difference before you speak!
— Pauline Seaport
Every man has his fault, and honesty is his.- Lucullus (Act III, scene 1)
— William Shakespeare
Freud was not entirely honest with himself when he said, “Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise".
— A. Cretan
A wise man thus seeks not a straight path, but one that is the shortest or most convenient. The idea is to reach your goal comfortably and quickly rather than wasting your time in finding ‘Which is the straightest path?
— Awdhesh Singh, The Secret Red Book of Leadership
With honesty and a little digging, we have the opportunity to identify our gifts and harness them in the service of our best self—our own unique noble purpose.
— Tom Hayes
I pull back, gasping for breath. Reeling. His breath is ragged, and I place my hands on his cheeks to steady him. "Is this okay?" I whisper. "Are you okay?"His reply is anguished. Honest. "I love you.
— Stephanie Perkins, Lola and the Boy Next Door
Men will not accept truth at the hands of their enemies, and truth is seldom offered to them by their friends
— Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
Straightforwardness intimidates people. They prefer the veneer, despite what they claim.
— Donna Lynn Hope
Real transformation requires real honesty. If you want to move forward — get real with yourself.
— Bryant McGill, Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life
From what I've witness, honesty didn't really make anyone happy. The truth was a punch to the gut, and while you were falling, a knee to the face, then you could lie on the floor and bleed for a spell.
— Tanya Thompson, Assuming Names: A Con Artist's Masquerade
Honesty whispers, "Don't get pricked by the thorns of lie.
— Angelica Hopes
We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others, that in the end, we become disguised to ourselves.
They [his readers, whom he asks to be his friends] will find that I have always loved truth so passionately that I have often resorted to lying as a way of first introducing it into minds which were ignorant of its charms” (Casanova, p.34, Vol 1 Preface).
— Giacomo Casanova, The Complete Memoirs of Casanova (Unexpurgated Edition)
Indeed it is generally the case that men are readier to call rogues clever than simpletons honest, and are ashamed of being the second as they are proud of being the first.
— Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
The people who enlighten us are the ones who tell us their secrets.
— Marty Rubin
Can I be trusted? Can you? I can be trusted with some things, but not all things, just like you.
— Donna Lynn Hope
Even the oldest trees aren't ashamed to stand naked.
— Marty Rubin
Face the truth about what is standing in the way of your intention.
— -Shandel Slaten
Truth may be stretched, but cannot be broken, and always gets above falsehood, as does oil above water."~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ~
— Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Reassuring a jealous woman that you don't want her man creates the bigger beast of resentment because that tells her that what she has isn't desirable and to her, where the opinions of others correlates to her self-worth, is unforgivable.
— Donna Lynn Hope
She remembered the intensity of her desire to undress him, to be naked with him, the way she felt like she could say whatever she wanted and be fully understood and do whatever she wanted and be totally accepted. She remembered how easy it had all been, how open and bright, like being in a whitewashed room with all the windows wide open.
— Lisa Jewell, Vince and Joy
He was a man more concerned with the truth than his arrest quota, a philosophy that would often have him skate on thin ice with the higher ups.
— Bruce Crown, Chronic Passions
I'm not a poet and I know it.
— Steph
A tear cringed off his cheek and stained her writing on the paper. He didn’t wipe it, men must be honest and transparent, they should never wipe their tears.
— Bruce Crown, Chronic Passions
If a man wishes to ensure the bad opinion of others, his best course probably is to be honest about himself.
— William Hurrell Mallock, In An Enchanted Island: Or A Winter's Retreat In Cyprus
This is what we desire in intimate relationships but this deep connection is often so frightful that most do not take advantage of the opportunities presented for honesty.
— David W. Earle
The vanity of intelligence is that the intelligent man is often more committed to 'one-upping' his opponent than being truthful. When the idea of intelligence, rather than intelligence itself, becomes a staple, there is no wisdom in it.
— Criss Jami, Killosophy
When a man really tells the truth, the first truth he tells is that he himself is a liar.
— G.K. Chesterton, What's Wrong with the World