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Quote#Truth

It is the glistening and softly spoken lie; the amiable fallacy; the…

Quote byJohn Ruskin · 1819–1900

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Seven Lamps of Architecture (1849), Chapter II: The Lamp of Truth, section 1.

English (original)

It is the glistening and softly spoken lie; the amiable fallacy; the patriotic lie of the historian, the provident lie of the politician, the zealous lie of the partisan, the merciful lie of the friend, and the careless lie of each man to himself, that cast that black mystery over humanity, through which we thank any man who pierces, as we would thank one who dug a well in a desert.

— John Ruskin

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