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Poetry · Chapter
CCIV explained
A single aphoristic statement about the forfeiture of truth-telling rights when one's falsehoods are no longer believed.
What happens
A single aphoristic statement about the forfeiture of truth-telling rights when one's falsehoods are no longer believed.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Self-Deception
The chapter directly addresses falsehoods and the loss of credibility.
Key passages
“One whose falsehoods no longer deceive has forfeited the right to speak truth.”
A person whose lies are no longer believed has lost the privilege of being heard when telling the truth.
Condensed moral paradox on credibility and deception.