Dishonesty is the Second-Best Policy: And Other Rules to Live By

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Webb and Mitchell in their Cambridge days, mid-90s. The picture was taken for the poster advertising their first two-man show. Photograph: Courtesy of David Mitchell

If you like Mitchell’s sharp and acerbic take on things then you’re going to find quite a lot to enjoy here. I particularly enjoyed it when he was writing about art and artistic form, such as when he was musing on why the chairs on theatres are so unnecessarily uncomfortable, especially given that they don’t stop people from falling asleep. Time will inevitably uncover dishonesty and lies; history has no place for them. – Norodom SihanoukThe secret to getting away with lying is believing with all your heart. That goes for lying to yourself, even more so than lying to another. – Elizabeth Bear I've always operated under the notion that audiences don't always know when they're being lied to but that they always know when they're being told the truth. – Sean Penn

Mitchell is an exceptionally clever, eloquent and spot-on commentator. We should be grateful for him.' - Daily Mail

Liar quotes

I used to like old-fashioned things like classic cars,” he says. “And that’s fine because when they’re fading into the past and the future is perhaps less picturesque but fairer, then you can enjoy reminiscing about the picturesque.” But the essays and newspaper columns throughout? They show keen and well-thought-out observations and well-written criticism of today’s weirdness, and I am more edified having read them. Overall, I was impressed by how well he summarized complex ideas so economically and perfectly. Being blunt and forthright myself, I appreciate his forthright stance. A good liar knows that the most efficient lie is always a truth that has had a key piece removed from it. – Carlos Ruiz Zafon It goes down well in the TV world if you’ve got a column,” he says. “They’re aware that they haven’t got complete monopoly on your ability to express yourself publicly.” I should point out that this is David Mitchell the comedian and not David Mitchell who wrote Cloud Atlas, although both of them are worth reading. Comedian Mitchell is one of my favourites thanks to both Peep Show and That Mitchell and Webb Look, and it’s interesting that it doesn’t feel dated even though it was written before the pandemic, which changed half the things that he talks about here.