Winston Churchill, though raised in aristocracy, spoke in a way that everyone understood. He comprehended the power, speed and force of "the lie." Untruthfulness is arguably the greatest cause of personal and organizational failure in: companies, governments, friendships, sports teams, music groups, families - you name it - lies destroy it!

As Neitzsche observed:

"I'M NOT UPSET THAT YOU LIED TO ME. I'M UPSET THAT FROM NOW ON I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU."

Integrity has never been so important in the business world as in today's climate of corporate scandals and subsequent prison sentences.

Why does dishonesty creep so easily into a person's actions?

"TO RATIONALIZE THEIR LIES, PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENTS, CHURCHES, OR TERRORIST CELLS THEY COMPOSE ARE APT TO REGARD THEIR PRIVATE INTERESTS AND DESIRES AS JUST."
- Wendy Kaminer

I have a great friend who maintains that he only lies to save others from pain. Of course this is ridiculous, for that assumes that he is an all knowing "god" that decides what people deserve to know or not know. Interestingly, the same person would annihilate anyone that tried to decide what facts he should or should not be allowed to hear. He dares the truism of one of the most famous and true of all quotes, by Sir Walter Scott:

"OH WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE WHEN FIRST WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE!"

There seem to be some professions where lying is expected, exemplified by this definition of DIPLOMACY: "THE PATRIOTIC ART OF LYING FOR ONE'S COUNTRY."

But who is crazy enough to believe a diplomat!

Conversely, people like to make jokes about their lying in order to minimize the impact of a lie, or to laugh at reality, such as:

"I WOULD NEVER LIE. I WILLFULLY PARTICIPATE IN A CAMPAIGN OF MISINFORMATION."
- Fox Mulder, or....

"I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO READ THE TABLOIDS DESERVE TO BE LIED TO."
- Jerry Seinfeld,or....

"SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LIE. ONE OFTEN HAS TO DISTORT A THING TO CATCH its TRUE SPIRIT."
- Robert Flaherty

Ronald Reagan even used the subject of lying for one of his famous "quips," saying:
"I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO LIE."

People obsess about their careers, but seem unconcerned about the lies they "must tell" to reach their occupational goals. Likewise, students often fixate on the diploma they lust after, but rationalize the cheating (lying about the honor code they sign) they use to get there. Both forget that:

"A SINGLE LIE DESTROYS A WHOLE REPUTATION FOR INTEGRITY."
- Baltasar Gracian

As Mark Twain wrote, possibly in frustration after a lie gone bad:
"ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH. THAT WAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID."