Few things in life are more embarrassing than the necessity of having to inform an old friend that you have just got engaged to his fiancee.
W. C. FieldsRead
You can fool some of the people some of the time -- and that's enough to make a decent living.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that misleading people occasionally can be beneficial for personal gain.
W. C. Fields humorously points out the idea that a person can achieve a comfortable life by taking advantage of people's gullibility. The quote reflects a cynical view of human nature, implying that a small amount of deception can lead to success, as long as it is done selectively and occasionally.
Themes
DeceptionHumorSuccessPeopleLiving
In practice
Example use cases
To make light of a situation during a speech about ethics in business.
More from W. C. Fields
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I was married once--in San Francisco. I haven't seen her for many years. The great earthquake and fire in 1906 destroyed the marriage certificate. There's no legal proof. Which proves that earthquakes aren't all bad.
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If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.
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Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.
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I never vote for anyone. I always vote against.
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