February 10th, 2015 → 5:53 am @ Lea // No Comments

“Therefore I lie with her and she with me
And in our faults by lies we flatter’d be.”  – Sonnet 138

This was quoted in an op-ed in The New York Times over the weekend, in support of the argument that it is ok to lie to your loved ones.  That love is more important than truth, so lie a little.  I’m not sure I buy the argument, but the quote is a good one.  Indeed, the entire sonnet is a good one, so here it is in full:

When my love swears that she is made of truth
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutor’d youth,
Unlearned in the world’s false subtleties.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false speaking tongue:
On both sides thus is simple truth suppress’d.
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love’s best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love loves not to have years told:

Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flatter’d be.