2007-04-24 06:55:08 · 12 answers · asked by marty justa wonderin 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I suspect you are thinking about this quote by Vladimir Lenin:
"A lie told often enough becomes the truth."
Lenin was a Russian Communist politician & revolutionary (1870 - 1924)
Or you might be thinking of a phenomenon called "self-fulfilling prophesy". An example of this would be: A child of average intelligence is repeatedly told his is stupid. He believes it and starts seeing himself as stupid, so he never bothers to study anything or apply himself in any way. Perhaps he falls into a life of crime or fries his brain on drugs. What started out as a lie becomes the truth.
Another example could be the placebo effect. You think you are taking medicine, but it's just a sugar pill. But due to your belief, you are cured of your aliment. The reverse can also occur. There is a famous case (supposedly reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, but I can't confirm that) of a woman who was mistakenly diagnosed with a terminal illness (cancer, I think). She suffered the symptoms and died on schedule, but an autopsy revealed that she actually did not have the disease. This might be an urban legend, but the point is that the placebo effect can work both ways.
2007-04-24 10:08:54 · answer #1 · answered by eroticohio 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
After time passes and no one can remember the lie in the first place?
When circumstances happen that convert the lie to truth. This happened to a guy I know. He was driving after drinking and swerved. When pulled over by the cop he said he swerved to try to miss a cat. Looking back, the roadkill was there and the cop believed it, however it was the booze and poor reflexes that caused the swerve.
2007-04-24 14:07:18 · answer #2 · answered by csucdartgirl 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Truth and Lies:
"Truth exists; only lies are invented." - Horatius Bonar, D.D.
"Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Truth is more of a stranger than fiction." - Mark Twain
"It is always the best policy to speak the truth-- unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar." - Jerome K Jerome
"Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well." - Samuel Butler
"A lie told often enough becomes the truth." - Lenin
"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't." - Mark Twain
"Everyone wishes to have truth on his side, but not everyone wishes to be on the side of truth." - Richard Whately
"Have patience awhile; slanders are not long-lived. Truth is the child of time; erelong she shall appear to vindicate thee." - Immanuel Kant
2007-04-24 15:09:09 · answer #3 · answered by sjsosullivan 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When we change. The lie from one era can be the truth of another. As we progress, our ideals and beliefs will change, and in the process, what we believe to be lies and truth will also change.
2007-04-24 15:04:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When too few people know what the truth is.
2007-04-25 22:07:18 · answer #5 · answered by Habt our quell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you start to become the lie.
2007-04-28 04:52:49 · answer #6 · answered by : ) 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we grow older and die. That's why it's called "The Facts Of Life."
2007-04-24 22:38:08 · answer #7 · answered by pj m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never
2007-04-24 15:11:02 · answer #8 · answered by Nidhogg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When it is held to be fact by the masses.
2007-04-24 14:36:06 · answer #9 · answered by AthenaGenesis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never.
2007-04-24 15:03:51 · answer #10 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋