Curtis Dahlgren
Drunk on power, the power of lies (but will it work this time?)
FacebookTwitter
By Curtis Dahlgren
November 5, 2024

(Republished from November 2, 2016, and October 11, 2020)

"If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power." – Dwight Eisenhower

"The lie in the Soul is a true lie." – Benjamin Jowett (1817-1893)

This life's five windows of the soul
Distorts the Heavens from pole to pole,
And leads you to believe a lie
When you see with, not thro', the eye.
– William Blake (1757-1827)

To lapse in fullness
Is sorer than to lie for need, and falsehood
Is worse in kings than beggars.

– Wm. Shakespeare (1564-1616)

DISCLAIMER: Can't say I've never told a lie. Didn't call it a "talking point" though. Shakespeare wrote:

"The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not…. Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie; a fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby."

"The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.... Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle." – Edmund Burke (1729-97)

I was just given a book, "YOU SAID WHAT? Lies and propaganda throughout history," by Bill Fawcett (Harper, 2007), and he says:

"The lie was the keynote deception for one of the darkest past of European history. I am not sure what so many Germans' believing it says about them or the world over half a century ago. What do we believe that is just as wrong today?"

Burke said: "Among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist…. Tyrants seldom [lack] pretexts…. Falsehood has a perennial spring."

"The lie that flatters I abhor the most…. Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made, to turn a penny." – William Cowper (1731-1800)

"An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad." – Sir Henry Wotton (1568-1639)

That a lie which is all a lie may be met and fought with outright,

But a lie which is part a truth is a harder matter to fight.

– Tennyson (1809-1892)

CONCLUSION: "Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie won't be in God's Kingdom." – Revelation

Unlike George Washington, we've all told them, but I never loved one. A few words more from the Scriptures:

    "They have set up kings, but not by Me."

    "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice."

    "Woe unto that nation whose king is a boy . . . Women and babes shall rule over them."

    "For so is the will of God that you may put to silence the foolishness of ignorant men, not using your liberty as a cloak for malice, but as bond-servants of God."

    "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty."

To re-phrase the passage above, written by Peter to the scattered Tribes in Asia Minor: "Use your Freedoms to put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."

P.S. "A few honest men are better than numbers." – Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)

PPS: Liars think you are stupid. Some people are, but I think the sheep are beginning to recognize the sound of the wolves.

© Curtis Dahlgren

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)

Click to enlarge

Curtis Dahlgren

Curtis Dahlgren is semi-retired in southern Wisconsin, and is the author of "Massey-Harris 101." His career has had some rough similarities to one of his favorite writers, Ferrar Fenton... (more)

Subscribe

Receive future articles by Curtis Dahlgren: Click here

More by this author

 

Stephen Stone
HAPPY EASTER: A message to all who love our country and want to help save it

Stephen Stone
The most egregious lies Evan McMullin and the media have told about Sen. Mike Lee

Siena Hoefling
Protect the Children: Update with VIDEO

Stephen Stone
FLASHBACK to 2020: Dems' fake claim that Trump and Utah congressional hopeful Burgess Owens want 'renewed nuclear testing' blows up when examined

Steve A. Stone
Truth will out...maybe...someday

Curtis Dahlgren
On the need for noble mothers (and fathers)

Tom DeWeese
If you are illegal, come. We’ll give you $thousands and let you kill and rape. If you are legal, go to hell

Stanley Zir
The sky is not falling, Chicken Little, under Donald Trump

Jerry Newcombe
How Thanksgiving became a national holiday

Frank Louis
Thanksgiving Thoughts: If you think prayer doesn’t work, think again

Kari Lee Fournier
Almighty God vs. Satan: Thanksgiving during demolition of the Deep State!

Victor Sharpe
Glory or weakness: Israel’s eternal choice

Selwyn Duke
Let’s say man IS changing the climate. So what?

Pete Riehm
Give thanks for another opportunity for freedom

Tom DeWeese
Observations on the 2024 Election

Curtis Dahlgren
War and peace
  More columns

Cartoons


Click for full cartoon
More cartoons

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Russ J. Alan
Bonnie Alba
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites