Who said “The English are polite by telling lies. The Americans are polite by telling the truth.”?

Verified

Malcolm Bradbury. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceStepping Westward (1965)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Stepping Westward (1965).

APA

Bradbury, M. (n.d.). The English are polite by telling lies. The Americans are polite by telling the truth. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28070-the-english-are-polite-by-telling-lies-the/

MLA

Bradbury, Malcolm. “The English are polite by telling lies. The Americans are polite by telling the truth.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28070-the-english-are-polite-by-telling-lies-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Bradbury, Malcolm. “The English are polite by telling lies. The Americans are polite by telling the truth.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28070-the-english-are-polite-by-telling-lies-the/.