It makes sense to say that those without a solid memory should not get in the habit of telling lies.
[Ce n’est pas sans raison qu’on dict, que qui ne se sent point assez ferme de memoire, ne se doit pas mesler d’estre menteur.]
Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 9 (1.9), “Of Liars [Des Menteurs]” (1572) [tr. HyperEssays (2025)]
(Source)
This essay and passage were present in the 1st (1580) edition.
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:It is not without reason, men say, that hee who hath not a good and ready memorie, shoulde never meddle with telling of lies, and feare to become a liar.
[tr. Florio (1603)]It is not without reason said, that he who has not a good memory, should never offer to tell lies.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]It is not without good reason said "that he who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]Not without reason is it said that he who does not know himself to be of sane memory should not meddle with lying.
[tr. Ives (1925)]It is not unreasonably said that anyone who does not feel sufficiently strong in memory should not meddle with lying.
[tr. Frame (1943)]Not without reason is it said that no one who is not conscious of having a sound memory should set up to be a liar.
[tr. Cohen (1958)]It is not for nothing that it is said that he who does not feel his memory to be strong enough has no business lying.
[tr. Screech (1987)]
Note that Montaigne frames this as a common saying, and one translator attributes it to Quintilian, Instituio Oratoria, Book 4, 2.92, though that source notes it as already being proverbial (English, Latin):And there is no doubt about the truth of the proverb that a liar should have a good memory.
[Verumque est illud, quod vulgo dicitur, mendacem memorem esse oportere.]
Quotations about:
long memory
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
An actor can remember his briefest notice well into senescence and long after he has forgotten his phone number and where he lives.
Jean Kerr (1922–2003) American author and playwright [b. Bridget Jean Collins]
Essay (1957), “One Half of Two on the Aisle,” Please Don’t Eat the Daisies
(Source)
No earlier magazine publication found.
Men hate more steadily than they love; and if I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him.
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
In James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, “September 15, 1777” (1791)
(Source)



