Sublime

Any false statement—regardless of intent or belief—is a lie.

I look at the severity, the circumstances, and the patterns to try to understand whether I am dealing with a person who is a habitual liar and will lie to me again, or with a person who is fundamentally honest yet imperfect.

overstating billable hours by economic consultants.

Lies in quotes because people always use the word so righteously, as if the truth is a naturally occurring diamond. But fine, call it lying. Each person does the amount of lying that is right for them. You have to know yourself and fulfill the amount of untruth that your constitution requires. I knew many women (like my own dear Jordi) who simply

Some liars are so expert they deceive themselves. —AUSTIN O’MALLEY, Keystones of Thought