It is impossible for someone to lie unless he thinks he knows the truth. Producing bullshit requires no such conviction.
Harry FrankfurtRead
The fact about himself that the liar hides is that he is attempting to lead us away from a correct apprehension of reality; we are not to know that he wants us to believe something he supposes to be false. The fact about himself that the bullshitter hides, on the other hand, is that the truth-values of his statements are of no central interest to him . . . He does not care whether the things he says describe reality correctly. He just picks them out, or makes them up, to suit his purpose.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote distinguishes between liars and bullshitters, emphasizing that liars care about the truth while bullshitters disregard it entirely.
In this profound observation by Harry Frankfurt, the distinction between a liar and a bullshitter becomes clear. A liar conceals the truth to manipulate others into a false understanding of reality, implying that he acknowledges a truth he is trying to hide. Conversely, a bullshitter is indifferent to the truth itself; he fabricates or selects statements solely to achieve his own aims, showing a lack of concern for the objective reality of those statements. This highlights the complexities of how truth and deception operate in human communication, and raises important questions about honesty and integrity in discourse.
Themes
TruthDeceptionCommunicationPhilosophyLiarBullshit
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used to start a philosophical debate in a classroom setting.
More from Harry Frankfurt
All quotes →Bullshit is unavoidable whenever circumstance require someone to talk without knowing what he is talking about.
Harry FrankfurtRead
Recognizing truth requires selflessness. You have to leave yourself out of it so you can find out the way things are in themselves, not the way they look to you or how you feel about them or how you would like them to be.
Harry FrankfurtRead
One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit.
Harry FrankfurtRead
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