Always tell the truth - it's the easiest thing to remember.

Hear the sharp and practical wisdom of David Mamet, dramatist and craftsman of words: “Always tell the truth—it’s the easiest thing to remember.” At first glance, this saying appears simple, almost casual. Yet within its plainness lies a profound insight into the human heart. For lies are burdens, chains that bind the mind in endless vigilance. But truth, once spoken, carries no such weight; it is light upon the tongue, clear in the memory, constant through the years. To tell the truth is not only a moral act, but a liberation of the self from the prison of deceit.

The origin of such wisdom comes from Mamet’s world of storytelling, where characters live and breathe through words. In theater and in life, falsehoods must be remembered, rehearsed, and maintained, while truth stands unchanging. An actor who fakes too much is quickly caught; a liar in life suffers the same fate. Mamet, with the practical eye of an artist, reminds us that honesty is not only virtuous but efficient. To remember truth is to recall reality; to remember lies is to recall inventions, and the mind grows weary under their weight.

History testifies to this law. Consider Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. The lies spun to conceal a crime multiplied into contradictions, denials, and endless complications. The story could not be remembered, because it was never true. At last, the fabric tore apart under the strain, and the world saw the dishonesty laid bare. Had truth been spoken, shame might have been endured, but the burden of endless deceit would not have destroyed trust in the same way.

Now think of Abraham Lincoln, whose reputation for honesty earned him the name “Honest Abe.” Whether in the courtroom or the halls of government, he found that speaking plainly saved him from the traps of deceit. The truth required no rehearsals, no rehearsed alibis, no scrambling to recall what had been said before. His memory was clear because his words were aligned with reality. And because he always told the truth, he was trusted even by those who opposed him.

The lesson is this: lies may appear easy in the moment, but they demand endless maintenance. A single falsehood spawns a dozen more to cover its tracks, and the liar becomes enslaved to his own invention. But the one who tells the truth is free. He carries no burden, for reality does not change, and his memory need only rest on what is. In this way, truth is not only the noblest path but also the simplest, the easiest thing to remember.

O children of tomorrow, do not weigh yourselves down with the chains of deceit. Let your speech be clear, let your words match your deeds, and you will find your memory untroubled, your mind at rest. When you speak truth, you walk lightly, for you have nothing to conceal. When you lie, you walk with fear, always glancing behind you to ensure your story does not unravel. Choose the lighter path, for it will carry you farther and with greater dignity.

Therefore, let your daily practice be this: before speaking, ask yourself—Is it truth? If it is, speak boldly, for you will never need to rehearse it again. If it is not, hold your tongue, lest you weave a chain you cannot bear to carry. Teach your children, your friends, your companions in labor, that truth is not only righteous but practical. It simplifies life, clears the mind, and wins the trust of all who hear it.

Thus remember Mamet’s wisdom: “Always tell the truth—it’s the easiest thing to remember.” For honesty is not only a virtue but a freedom, not only a principle but a gift. Speak truth, live truth, and your memory will remain clear as a mirror, reflecting life as it is, without distortion, without fear.