Who said “Anyone can tell the truth, but only very few of us can make epigrams.”?

Verified

W. Somerset Maugham. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceA Writer's Notebook (1946), "1896", p. 17

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: A Writer's Notebook (1946), "1896", p. 17.

APA

Maugham, W. S. (n.d.). Anyone can tell the truth, but only very few of us can make epigrams. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/6520-anyone-can-tell-the-truth-but-only-very/

MLA

Maugham, W. Somerset. “Anyone can tell the truth, but only very few of us can make epigrams.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/6520-anyone-can-tell-the-truth-but-only-very/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Maugham, W. Somerset. “Anyone can tell the truth, but only very few of us can make epigrams.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/6520-anyone-can-tell-the-truth-but-only-very/.