QuoteProject
All governments are run by liars and nothing they say should be believed.
I. F. Stone
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that governments are often dishonest and untrustworthy.

I. F. Stone's assertion highlights a deep skepticism towards government officials, implying that the information they provide may not be reliable. This perspective challenges citizens to critically evaluate governmental statements and recognize potential manipulation, promoting an informed and questioning attitude in the public discourse.

Themes

GovernmentLiarsTruthSkepticismAuthority

In practice

Example use cases

During a political debate, to emphasize the need for transparency in governance.

More from I. F. Stone

All governments lie, but disaster lies in wait for countries whose officials smoke the same hashish they give out.
I. F. StoneRead
The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you’re going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins.
I. F. StoneRead

Similar quotes

There does not have to be trade-off between growth and social protection. A democracy does not mean much if it doesn't respond to the needs and will of its people.
Michelle BacheletRead
I hope I'm wrong, but I am afraid that Iraq is going to turn out to be the greatest disaster in American foreign policy - worse than Vietnam, not in the number who died, but in terms of its unintended consequences and its reverberation throughout the region.
Madeleine AlbrightRead
While democracy must have its organizations and controls, its vital breath is individual liberty.
Charles Evans HughesRead
Only votes talk, everything else walks.
Dan RatherRead
In our political system, money is power. And that means a few can have a lot more power than the rest. That's bad news for everyone else - and for our democracy itself.
Al FrankenRead
It's not normal that, when you close your eyes and listen to the news, too often the political back-and-forth in America sounds too much like it does in the kinds of countries that the State Department warns Americans not to travel to.
John F. KerryRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.