# Quote — V. S. Naipaul, In a Free State

> The only lies for which we are truly punished are those we tell ourselves.

- Author: [V. S. Naipaul](https://www.leafyquotes.com/v-s-naipaul.md)
- Book: [In a Free State](https://www.leafyquotes.com/v-s-naipaul/in-a-free-state.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/V._S._Naipaul#In_a_Free_State_(1971)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/v-s-naipaul/in-a-free-state/the-only-lies