# CCIV explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cciv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters