Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.
Lying (Falsehood)
A false report rides post.
A good faculty in lying is a fair step to preferment.
A good lie finds more believers than a bad truth.German.
A great lie is the best.German.
A great talker is a great liar.French.
A half-a-truth is better than a whole lie.
A liar is a bravo towards God and a coward towards man.
A liar is a nuisance to society.
A liar is never esteemed.Sri Lankan.
A liar is sooner caught than a cripple.Italian, Portuguese.
A lie becomes truth when one believes it.German.
A lie begets a lie till they come to generations.
A lie carries ten others.German.
A lie has no legs (no stability) but a slander has wings.
A lie has short legs; i.e., is soon caught.Italian, Spanish.
A lie is soon ready.German.
A lie needs twenty more to prop it.
A lie never grows old.Euripides.
A lie never has enough.German.
A lie that is half truth is ever the blackest lie.Tennyson.
A lie though it promises good will do thee harm and truth will do thee good at last.
A necessary lie is harmless.German.
“Almost” and “very nigh” save many a lie.
And that outrageous appetite for lies,
That Satan angles with for souls like flies.Byron.
Don’t tell new lies to old rogues.
Every liar has another for his witness.Modern Greek.
Falsehood is cowardice, truth is courage.Hosea Ballou.
Falsehood is folly.Homer.
Falsehood is just as far distant from truth as the ears are from the eyes.Thales.
Falsehood is often rocked by truth but she soon outgrows her cradle and discards her nurse.Cotton.
Falsehood is the devil’s daughter and speaks her father’s tongue.Danish.
Falsehood like a nettle stings those who meddle with it.
Falsehood never tires of going round about.Danish.
Falsehood travels and grows.Danish.
From long journeys long lies.Spanish.
He lies as fast as a horse can trot.
He lies like a tooth drawer.French.
He lies like print.Mecklenburg.
He lies like truth.
He may lie boldly who comes from afar.French, Italian.
He that does not lie does not come of good blood.Spanish.
He that hears much hears many lies.
He that tells a lie buffeteth himself.
He who always tells me a lie never cheats me.Spanish.
He who prates much lies much.German.
He who says nothing never lies.Italian.
He who tells a lie must invent twenty more to maintain it.Pope.
He who utters falsehoods shall not be credited when he tells the truth.Aristotle.
He’s a long-bow man; i.e., a liar.
I give him joy that’s awkward at a lie.Young.
I hate a liar.Plautus.
“I heard one say so,” is half a lie.
If lies are to be believed they must be patched with truth.Danish.
If lies were Latin there would be many learned men.Danish.
It is better to save one’s self by a falsity than to innocently suffer an infamous death.Timæus.
Liars begin by imposing upon others but end by deceiving themselves.
Liars generally pay the penalty of their guilt.Phædrus.
Liars should have good memories.Italian, German.
Lie for him and he’ll swear for you.
Lies and gossips have a wretched offspring.Danish.
Lies and Latin go round the world.Danish.
Lies have short legs.Italian, German.
Lies melt like snow.German.
Lies pass away, truth endures.German.
Long voyages occasion great lies.
Lords and fools speak falsely.Danish.
Lying and gossipping go hand in hand.Spanish.
Lying is the first step to the gallows.German.
Lying lips are an abomination unto the Lord.Bible.
Lying pays no tax.Portuguese.
Lying rides on debt’s back.
No law for lying.
No lie so gross that it does not find believers.German.
Old men and far travellers may lie by authority.
One lie draws ten after it.
One lie in the sultan’s head will keep out twenty truths.Moorish.
One lie makes many.
One lie reaches its hand to another.German.
One must adorn a lie with many others.German.
Painters and poets have liberty to lie.
Show me a liar and I’ll show you a thief.French, German, Dutch.
Singers, lovers and poets are privileged liars.German.
Some lies are better than truth.Turkish.
Tell a lie and you’ll hear the truth.German, Spanish.
The credit got by a lie, lasts only till the truth comes out.
The greatest liars talk most of themselves.
The liar is not believed when he speaks the truth.Italian.
The liar is sooner caught than the cripple.Spanish.
The mou’ that lies slays the saul.
The nimblest footman is a false tale.
The official that cannot lie may as well be out of the world.Spanish.
The thief and liar live under the same roof.German.
There is no vice that hath not its beginning in a lie.Dryden.
Thou canst not better reward a liar than in not believing what he speaketh.Aristippus.
Though a lie be swift truth overtakes it.Italian.
Though a lie be well dressed it is ever overcome.
Two may lie so long as to hang a third.Danish.
Who dares think one thing and another tell,
My heart detests him as the gates of hell.Pope.
Who is the greatest liar? Who talks most of himself.Chinese.
Who knows to lie, knows neither to love nor respect his parents.Chinese.
You may shut your doors against a thief but not against a liar.Danish.