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When war is declared, Truth is the first casualty. books.google

— Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede Falsehood in Wartime (1928)

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This famous quotation is similar to the one Philip Snowden used in his introduction to Truth and the War, by E. D. Morel. London, July 1916: "'Truth,' it has been said, 'is the first casualty of war.'" Samuel Johnson#The Idler (1758-1760) expressed a similar idea: "Among the calamities of war may be justly numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates and credulity encourages." Cf. Aeschylus#Misattributed.

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More quotes by Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede

In war-time, failure to lie is negligence, the doubting of a lie a misdemeanour, the declaration of the truth a crime.

Falsehood in Wartime (1928)

I do not desire to give myself any fresh political label.

The absence of disapproval may be accepted as sanction, and publicity and opportunity for discussion and criticism are the really material and valuable elements which henceforth will be introduced.

The defilement of the human soul is worse than the destruction of the human body. A fuller realization of this is essential.

Falsehood in Wartime (1928)

They cannot afford to tell the truth. In some cases it must be admitted that at the moment they do not know what the truth is.

Falsehood in Wartime (1928)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.