Aleister Crowley Quotes

To say 'we' and mean 'I' is one of the most recondite insults.

Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.

Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it.

The music industry is a world of smoke and mirrors: they tell you exactly what they think you want to hear. And they are bare-faced lying. I tend to stay away from that.

Let us not foist this humbug on the world.

Politicians pretend not to be smart.

A bizarre sensation pervades a relationship of pretense. No truth seems true.

Customary use of artifice is the sign of a small mind, and it almost always happens that he who uses it to cover one spot uncovers himself in another.

Irony is the recourse of the weak-minded wimp, I think. I hate bands that deliver their songs with knowing smiles on their faces, so that if those songs fall flat they can say 'Ah well, we never really meant it anyway.' It's so dishonest.

A hypocrite despises those whom he deceives, but has no respect for himself. He would make a dupe of himself too, if he could.

When people talk, they lay lines on each other, do a lot of role playing, sidestep, shilly-shally and engage in all manner of vagueness and innuendo. We do this and expect others to do it, yet at the same time we profess to long for the plain truth, for people to say what they mean, simple as that. Such hypocrisy is a human universal.

Bad faith likes discourse on friendship and loyalty.

He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.

Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing.

An ounce of hypocrisy is worth a pound of ambition.

Commend a fool for his wit, or a rogue for his honesty and he will receive you into his favor.

A technical objection is the first refuge of a scoundrel.

You know when someone's over-flattering you in a way. You smile but you can't believe it.

Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue.

Knavery and flattery are blood relations.

I'm really good at pretending.

The art of pleasing is the art of deception.

Life is a racket. Writing is a racket. Sincerity is a racket. Everything's a racket.

Saying what you believe others want to hear is, of course, a form of lying.

I was very fond of Princess Diana. She used to have me over to lunch to ask my advice. I'd give her good advice, and she'd say: 'I entirely agree. Paul, you're so right.' Then she'd go and do the opposite.