Whittaker Chambers

My children, as long as you live, the shadow of the Hiss Case will brush you. In every pair of eyes that rests on you, you will see pass, like a cloud passing behind a woods in winter, the memory of your father - dissembled in friendly eyes, lurking in unfriendly eyes.

American Writer

Laura Wasser

Especially where financial matters are concerned, when it comes to dissolving a marriage, any dissembling at all is strictly against the law - on penalty of perjury. You need to disclose fully and factually, which is precisely what the discovery process is all about.

American Lawyer

Adam Schiff

In fact, the converse is true: At a time when the United States has been called on for a level of moral leadership, vision and inspiration not seen since World War II, we cannot afford to dissemble about crimes against humanity.

American Politician

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves.

French Writer

Sheila Hancock

I can't keep my trap shut in interviews - I'm not very good at dissembling.

Use when needing to pretend, often to avoid conflict or to be polite.

Pretense Necessary

It can imply cleverness or strategy, not just deceitfulness.

Not Always Negative

Especially relevant for hiding feelings or emotions.

Emotional Disguise

Use when cautiously concealing the whole truth.

Cautious Revealing

Helpful in dangerous situations where truth may cause harm.

Avoiding Danger

Effective when it's beneficial to be ambiguous or unclear.

Strategic Ambiguity

 was not just the life stage thing, which is, of course, relevant, but it was really more about our desire to speak very honestly about subjects that people have difficulty speaking honestly about. It seems to us that when people start dissembling, people start lying about things,

Dissemble