Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.

διόπερ ῥᾷστον ἁπάντων ἐστὶν αὑτὸν ἐξαπατῆσαι: ὃ γὰρ βούλεται, τοῦθ᾽ ἕκαστος καὶ οἴεται

Demosthenes

More information about this quote

Topic

Delusion Credulity Truth

Speaker

Demosthenes

Medium

Speech

Language

Greek

Time

349 BC 340s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Politician

From

Greece Europe

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Demosthenes. Olynthiac Three. c. 349 BC, Athens, Greece.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Demosthenes about delusion: “Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes…”
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A quote by Demosthenes about delusion: “Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes…”
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A quote by Demosthenes about delusion: “Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Truth

We know the truth, not only by the reason, but by the heart.

Blaise Pascal

Pensées

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More information about this quote
Topic
Knowing the truth Truth Limits of reason Intuition

Author

Blaise Pascal
Source
Pensées
Medium
Epigram
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1670 1670s 17th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Pascal, Blaise. Pensées [Thoughts]. Paris: Chez G. Desprez, 1670, no. 1.

Current Citation

Pascal, Blaise. "Pensées." Pensées and Other Writings, edited by Anthony Levi, translated by Honor Levi. Oxford University Press, 2008, no. 1.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world.

The Talmud

More information about this quote
Topic
Moral theory
Source
The Talmud
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Precepts and axioms
Language
Hebrew
Time
200 200s 3rd century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Talmud. Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4:9:1.

Current Citation

The Talmud: A Selection, translated by Norman Solomon. Penguin Classics, 2009, Fourth Order Neziqin, Fourth Tractate Sanhedrin (The Court) 4:9:1.

Another quote originally in Greek

Between us and excellence, the gods have placed the sweat of our brows.

Hesiod

Works and Days

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More information about this quote
Topic
Hard work Excellence Character Virtue The human condition

Author

Hesiod
Source
Works and Days
Medium
Poem
Genre
Didactic poem
Language
Greek
Time
700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Hesiod. Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι [Works and Days]. c. 700 BC, l. 289.

Current Citation

Hesiod. "Works and Days." Theogony and Works and Days, translated by M. L. West. Oxford University Press, 2009, l. 289.