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Attribution note
Only a Goodreads 'mahatma-gandhi' tag supports it; no primary or reputable secondary source found, and the language is Romanian. Popularity-tagged, not attribution proof.
Likely origin: Romanian text ('even the smallest untruth spoils a man, as a drop of poison spoils a whole lake'). Attributed to Gandhi with no reliable source located; no book cited.
Review the attribution sourceAbout this quote
Dishonesty doesn't stay contained. One small lie changes how people weigh everything else you say, and it quietly erodes your own grip on what's real. Keeping your words exact protects a trust that took years to build and that a single slip can sour.
When to use it
- A resume that rounds a six-month stint into two years unravels the moment one date gets checked in the interview.
- A parent who fibs about small things loses a child's belief in the big promises too.
- An accountant who nudges a single figure to look tidy makes every other number in the ledger suspect.