# Quotes about self-deception - Quotes: 28 - Authors: 22 - Broader topic: [Quotes about lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.json ## Quotes > She knew it, but she did not want to know it. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [Tales from Earthsea](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/tales-from-earthsea.md) · p. 233 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/tales-from-earthsea/she-knew-it-but.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Obsessed with tricking the girl, he had fallen into the trap he laid for her. Bitterly he recognised that he was always believing his own lies, caught in nets he had elaborately woven. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [Tales from Earthsea](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/tales-from-earthsea.md) · p. 211 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/tales-from-earthsea/obsessed-with-tricking.md) Topics: [lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > “When someone asks for the ethics tape, we know they’ve already decided to invest. They just want some reassurance so they can feel good about it, too. That’s the thing you learn about values, Jones: they’re what people make up to justify what they did. Did you take business ethics in college?” > > “Yes.” > > “They teach you people’s behavior is guided by their values, right? That’s a load of crap. When you watch people like we do, you find out it’s the other way around. Look, I believe in what Alpha does, I really do. But do I worry about whether every little thing we do is ethical? No, because you can rationalize anything as ethical. You talk to a criminal—a tax dodger, a serial killer, a child abuser—and every one of them will justify their actions. They’ll explain to you, totally seriously, why they had to do what they did. Why they’re still good people. That’s the thing: when people talk about the importance of ethics, they never include themselves. The day anyone, anywhere, admits that they personally are unethical, I’ll start taking that whole issue seriously.” [Max Barry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry.md) · [Company](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry/company.md) · p. 111 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry/company/when-someone-asks.md) Topics: [morality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/morality.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Once you know what it is you want to be true, instinct is a very useful device for enabling you to know that it is. [Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/once-you-know.md) Topics: [intuition](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intuition.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > How quick come the reasons for approving what we like! [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Persuasion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/persuasion.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/persuasion/how-quick-come.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > "The chaplain had mastered, in a moment of divine intuition, the handy technique of protective rationalization, and he was exhilarated by his discovery. It was miraculous. It was almost no trick at all, he saw, to turn vice into virtue and slander into truth, impotence into abstinence, arrogance into humility, plunder into philanthropy, thievery into honor, blasphemy into wisdom, brutality into patriotism, and sadism into justice. Anybody could do it; it required no brains at all. It merely required no character." [Joseph Heller](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-heller.md) · [Catch-22](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-heller/catch-22.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-heller/catch-22/the-chaplain-had.md) Topics: [hypocrisy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hypocrisy.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > To think what we do not feel is to lie to ourselves, in the same way that we lie to others when we say to others what we do not think. Everything we think must be thought with our entire being, body, and soul. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/to-think-what.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > The feigning sleeper can delude others — he cannot delude himself. The false mystic, unfortunately, can delude both others and himself. [Anthony De Mello](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello.md) · [One Minute Wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello/one-minute-wisdom.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello/one-minute-wisdom/the-feigning-sleeper.md) Topics: [lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > A man who lies to himself is the worst liar of all. [Robert Silverberg](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-silverberg.md) · [The Gate of Worlds](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-silverberg/the-gate-of-worlds.md) · p. 162 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-silverberg/the-gate-of-worlds/a-man-who.md) Topics: [lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > My mistake. My inexcusable mistake, as a con man never stops being a con man; he can’t. But I suffered from a will to believe, a defect of character that I thought I had rooted out. I was mistaken. [Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md) · [Friday](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/friday.md) · p. 22 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/friday/my-mistake-my-inexcusable.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Beware of altruism. It is based on self-deception, the root of all evil. [Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md) · [Time Enough For Love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/time-enough-for-love.md) · p. 248 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/time-enough-for-love/beware-of-altruism.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md), [altruism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/altruism.md) > Men have been swindled by other men on many occasions. The autumn of 1929 was, perhaps, the first occasion when men succeeded on a large scale in swindling themselves. [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith.md) · [The Great Crash 1929](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-great-crash-1929.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-great-crash-1929/men-have-been.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > How could you disguise your own thoughts so even you didn't know what you were thinking? [Orson Scott Card](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card.md) · [The Memory Of Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/the-memory-of-earth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/the-memory-of-earth/how-could-you.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > You are so intent that you believe only what you believe that you believe, that you remain utterly blind to what you really believe without believing that you believe it. [Orson Scott Card](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card.md) · [Shadow Of The Hegemon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/shadow-of-the-hegemon.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/shadow-of-the-hegemon/you-are-so-intent.md) Topics: [beliefs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beliefs.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > "It's not a matter of right and wrong," Mr. Whittier would say. Really, there is no wrong. Not in our minds. Our own reality. You can never set off to do the wrong thing. You can never say the wrong thing. In your own mind, you are always right. Every action you take--what you do or say or how you choose to appear--is automatically right the moment you act. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Haunted](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/haunted.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/haunted/its-not-a-matter.md) Topics: [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close-up. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Lullaby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/lullaby.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/lullaby/the-trick-to-forgetting.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Hustlers of the world, there is one Mark you cannot beat: The Mark Inside. [William S. Burroughs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-s-burroughs.md) · [Naked Lunch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-s-burroughs/naked-lunch.md) · p. 11 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-s-burroughs/naked-lunch/hustlers-of-the.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Any given man sees only a tiny portion of the total truth, and very often, in fact almost … perpetually, he deliberately deceives himself about that precious little fragment as well. A portion of him turns against him and acts like another person, defeating him from inside. A man inside a man. Which is no man at all. [Philip K. Dick](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick.md) · [A Scanner Darkly](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick/a-scanner-darkly.md) · p. 185 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick/a-scanner-darkly/any-given-man.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. [Richard P. Feynman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman.md) · [The Pleasure of Finding Things Out](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman/the-pleasure-of-finding-things-out.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman/the-pleasure-of-finding-things-out/the-first-principle.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Thinking you know why you behave as you do gives you all sorts of excuses for extraordinary behavior. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Chapterhouse: Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/chapterhouse-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/chapterhouse-dune/thinking-you-know.md) Topics: [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > How often it is that the angry man rages denial of what his inner self is telling him. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune/how-often-it-is-that.md) Topics: [anger](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/anger.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > If I had been downright honest with myself, I would have seen very plainly in my heart that I did but half fancy being committed this way to so long a voyage, without once laying my eyes on the man who was to be the absolute dictator of it, so soon as the ship sailed out upon the open sea. But when a man suspects any wrong, it sometimes happens that if he be already involved in the matter, he insensibly strives to cover up his suspicions even from himself. And much this way it was with me. I said nothing, and tried to think nothing. [Herman Melville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville.md) · [Moby-Dick](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick.md) · p. 108 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick/if-i-had.md) Topics: [honesty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/honesty.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Human beings have a demonstrated talent for self-deception when their emotions are stirred. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Cosmos](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/cosmos.md) · p. 135 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/cosmos/human-beings-have.md) Topics: [emotions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/emotions.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > To Live signifies to believe and hope — to lie and to lie to oneself. [Emil Cioran](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran.md) · [A Short History of Decay](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/a-short-history-of-decay.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/a-short-history-of-decay/to-live-signifies.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [hope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hope.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > At first our pupil had merely sensations, now he has ideas; he could only feel, now he reasons. For from the comparison of many successive or simultaneous sensations and the judgment arrived at with regard to them, there springs a sort of mixed or complex sensation which I call an idea. The way in which ideas are formed gives a character to the human mind. The mind which derives its ideas from real relations is thorough; the mind which relies on apparent relations is superficial. He who sees relations as they are has an exact mind; he who fails to estimate them aright has an inaccurate mind; he who concocts imaginary relations, which have no real existence, is a madman; he who does not perceive any relation at all is an imbecile. Clever men are distinguished from others by their greater or less aptitude for the comparison of ideas and the discovery of relations between them. Simple ideas consist merely of sensations compared one with another. Simple sensations involve judgments, as do the complex sensations which I call simple ideas. In the sensation the judgment is purely passive; it affirms that I feel what I feel. In the percept or idea the judgment is active; it connects, compares, it discriminates between relations not perceived by the senses. That is the whole difference; but it is a great difference. Nature never deceives us; we deceive ourselves. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/at-first-our.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [ideas](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ideas.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > Underlying even the so-called problem of knowledge there is simply this human feeling, just as underlying the inquiry into the "why," the cause, there is simply the search for the "wherefore," the end. All the rest is either to deceive oneself or to wish to deceive others; and to wish to deceive others in order to deceive oneself. [Miguel de Unamuno](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno.md) · [Tragic Sense of Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life/underlying-even-the.md) Topics: [knowledge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/knowledge.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > It need hardly be said that the subtlest practitioners of DOUBLETHINK are those who invented DOUBLETHINK and know that it is a vast system of mental cheating. In our society, those who have the best knowledge of what is happening are also those who are furthest from seeing the world as it is. In general, the greater the understanding, the greater the delusion; the more intelligent, the less sane. [George Orwell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell.md) · [Nineteen Eighty-Four](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four/it-need-hardly.md) Topics: [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/illusions.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md) > DOUBLETHINK means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. The Party intellectual knows in which direction his memories must be altered; he therefore knows that he is playing tricks with reality; but by the exercise of DOUBLETHINK he also satisfies himself that reality is not violated. The process has to be conscious, or it would not be carried out with sufficient precision, but it also has to be unconscious, or it would bring with it a feeling of falsity and hence of guilt. [George Orwell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell.md) · [Nineteen Eighty-Four](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four/doublethink-means-the.md) Topics: [propaganda](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/propaganda.md), [totalitarianism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/totalitarianism.md), [self-deception](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-deception.md)