This quote highlights a paradoxical aspect of human psychology, where people are sometimes more likely to believe larger, more audacious lies than smaller, more plausible ones. The “primitive simplicity” mentioned refers to the tendency of people to think in black-and-white terms and to be more susceptible to narratives that are simple and clear-cut, even if they are not entirely truthful.
The “big lie” in this context is a falsehood so enormous and outrageous that people find it hard to believe that someone could have the audacity to distort the truth to such an extent. As a result, they are more likely to accept it as the truth. On the other hand, small lies are often easily detected and questioned because they are within the realm of what people can readily comprehend and scrutinize.
Applying this idea to today’s world, we can see this dynamic at play in various aspects of society, such as politics, marketing, and social media. For example, in politics, some leaders may make grandiose promises or propagate exaggerated narratives to sway public opinion. Similarly, in marketing, companies often make bold claims about their products to attract customers. In both cases, the audacity of the claim can sometimes overshadow the need for factual accuracy.
In terms of personal development, this quote can serve as a reminder to remain vigilant and critical in our thinking. It encourages us to question information, especially when it seems too outrageous or too good to be true. It also underscores the importance of developing our critical thinking skills to discern truth from falsehood, no matter how big or small the lie may be.