“ Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. ”
 Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov (1880). copy citation

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“You have sense enough: don't give way to drunkenness and incontinence of speech; don't give way to sensual lust; and, above all, to the [pg 042] love of money. And close your taverns. If you can't close all, at least two or three. And, above all—don't lie.»
«You mean about Diderot?»
«No, not about Diderot. Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.” source

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