Deception

Deception or falsehood is an act or statement which misleads, hides the truth, or promotes a belief, concept, or idea that is not true. It is often done for personal gain or advantage and can involve dissimulation, propaganda and sleight of hand as well as distraction, subterfuge, camouflage or concealment. There is also self-deception, as in bad faith. It can also be called, with varying subjective implications, beguilement, deceit, bluff, mystification, ruse, or subterfuge. Deception violates relational rules and is considered to be a negative violation of expectations.

Quotes

• We are told, that in Turkey, when any Man is the Author of Notorious Falsehoods, it is usual to blacken the whole Front of his House. Nay we have sometimes heard, that an Embassador, whose Business it is (if I may quote his Character in Sir Henry Wotton's Words) to lie for the Good of his Country, has sometimes had this Mark set upon his House; when he been detected in any Piece of feign'd Intelligence, that has prejudiced the Government, and misled the Minds of the People. One could almost wish that the Habitations of such of our own Countrymen as deal in Forgeries detrimental to the Public, were distinguished in the same Manner; that their Fellow-Subjects might be cautioned not to be too easy in giving Credit to them. Were such a Method put in Practice, this Metropolis would be strangely checquered; some entire Parishes would be in Mourning, and several Streets darkened from one End to the other.
  • Joseph Addison, The free-holder: or political essays, (1716)

• A point can be reached in human development where acceptance of deception is impossible and clear thinking is normal.
  • Alice Bailey, The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, (1957)

• They know far too little and yet believe that they know much. They speak with authority, but it is the authority of the unexpanded mind. The expression of old... worn-out methods from the ancient past is all too prevalent at this time and it is responsible for much deception of the masses and consequent mass delusion.
  • Alice Bailey, The Destiny of Nations, (1949)

• Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
  • 1 Peter 2:1-2 NIV

• We believe that transparency in government activities leads to reduced corruption, better government and stronger democracies... In its landmark ruling on the Pentagon Papers, the US Supreme Court ruled that "only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government." We agree. We believe... the time has come for... disseminating documents the public should see.
  • Wikileaks, About

• Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.
  • Sun Tzu in The Art of War

• Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.
  • André Malraux

• There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.
  • Arthur Conan Doyle in The Boscombe Valley Mystery

See also

• Dishonesty
• Falsehood
• Noble lie
• Perjury
• Propaganda
• Self-deception
• Truth