Whereby it appeareth that there is great difference 1between lying, and telling or speaking a lye or untruth; for in a lye the tongue disagreeth from the mind, and falsely speaketh contrary to that which the mind thinketh, and therefore lieth though that be true which is spoken, because it is conceived and thought to be otherwise: but when a Man speaketh that which is a lye or untruth being persuaded that it is true, he lieth not, because his mind and tongue agree together, and he thinketh what he speaketh, but he only erreth and would not willingly deceive, but that himself is first deceived; so that such an one cannot be said to be a liar, seeing he mindeth, affecteth and loveth Truth, but is only mistaken in what he saith through ignorance, rashness or incogitancy. And of this judgement are the ancients. So Bernard: there is 2(saith he) that telleth a lye doubtingly and lieth not, and there is that affirmeth the Truth which he knoweth not, and lieth; for he indeed saith not that to be which is not, but yet affirmeth that he believeth that which in Truth he believeth, and he saith Truth, although that be not true which he believeth. But the other when he saith that he is 3certain of that whereof he is not certain, speaketh not the Truth, although that be true which he affirmeth. So Saint Anselm: He is not to be judged a liar, who speaketh false thinking it true, because as much as in him lieth he deceiveth not, but is deceived; and contrariwise, he lieth who ⟨p. 20⟩speaketh Truth, thinking it to be false. For he is not free from a lye who speaketh true things with his mouth, not knowing them to be so; but knowingly he lieth in his will. Saint Augustine also speaketh 4much to the same purpose; whosoever (saith he) speaketh that which either he believeth or thinketh in his mind, doth not lye although it be false. For this he oweth to the declaring of this faith, that he uttereth by it that which is in his mind, and so conceiveth it as he uttereth it. But he cannot be said to be in no fault although he doth not lye, if he either believeth things not to be believed, or thinketh that he knoweth what he knoweth not, although it be true: for he taketh things unknown as known; wherefore he lieth, who conceiveth one thing in his mind, and uttereth another thing by his words, or any other significations.
Whereby it appeareth that there is great difference 1betweene lying, and telling or speaking a lye or untruth; for in a lye the tongue disagreeth from the minde, and falsely speaketh contrary to that which the minde thinketh, and therefore lyeth though that bee true which is spoken, because it is conceived and thought to be otherwise: but when a Man speaketh that which is a lye or untruth being perswaded that it is true, hee lyeth not, because his minde and tongue agree together, and he thinketh what he speaketh, but hee onely erreth and would not willingly deceive, but that himselfe is first deceived; so that such an one cannot be said to be a lyer, seeing he mindeth, affecteth and loveth Truth, but is onely mistaken in what hee saith through ignorance, rashnesse or incogitancie. And of this judgement are the ancients. So Bernard: there is 2(saith hee) that telleth a lye doubtingly and lyeth not, and there is that affirmeth the Truth which he knoweth not, and lyeth; for he indeed saith not that to be which is not, but yet affirmeth that hee beleeveth that which in Truth he beleeveth, and he saith Truth, although that be not true which he beleeveth. But the other when he saith that he is 3certaine of that whereof he is not certaine, speakeeth not the Truth, although that be true which he affirmeth. So Saint Anselme: Hee is not to bee judged a lyer, who speaketh false thinking it true, because as much as in him lieth hee deceiveth not, but is deceived; and contrariwise, hee lyeth who ⟨p. 20⟩speaketh Truth, thinking it to be false. For hee is not free from a lye who speaketh true things with his mouth, not knowing them to be so; but knowingly he lyeth in his will. Saint Augustine also speaketh 4much to the same purpose; whosoever (saith hee) speaketh that which either hee beleeveth or thinketh in his minde, doth not lye although it be false. For this hee oweth to the declaring of this faith, that hee uttereth by it that which is in his minde, and so conceiveth it as he uttereth it. But hee cannot bee said to be in no fault although hee doth not lye, if hee either beleeveth things not to be beleeved, or thinketh that he knoweth what he knoweth not, although it be true: for hee taketh things unknowne as knowne; wherefore he lyeth, who conceiveth one thing in his minde, and uttereth another thing by his words, or any other significations.
- 1§. 4. Of the difference between lying and speaking an untruth.
- 2Est qui dubiè profert mendacium nec mentitur: & est qui veritatem quam nescit affirmat, & mentitur, &c. Bern. in Cant. Serm. 17
- 3Non est judicandus mendax qui dicit falsum quod putat verum, quiaquantum in se est non fallit, sed fallitur, &c. Anselm. in 2 Cor. 1.
- 4Quisquis autem hoc enunciat quod vel creditum animo vel opinatum tenet etiamsi falsum fit, non mentitur, &c. August. contra mendac. ad Consentium. cap. 3.
