Careful Words

lying (n.)

lying (adj.)

'T is as easy as lying.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.

For my part, getting up seems not so easy

By half as lying.

Thomas Hood (1798-1845): Morning Meditations.

  Now as the Paradisiacal pleasures of the Mahometans consist in playing upon the flute and lying with Houris, be mine to read eternal new romances of Marivaux and Crebillon.

Thomas Gray (1716-1771): To Mr. West. Letter iv. Third Series.

  He would be the finer gentleman that should leave the world without having tasted of lying or pretence of any sort, or of wantonness or conceit.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 a d): Meditations. ix. 2.

  Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying! I grant you I was down and out of breath; and so was he. But we rose both at an instant, and fought a long hour by Shrewsbury clock.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry IV. Part I. Act v. Sc. 4.