Every lie is two lies — the lie we tell others and the lie we tell ourselves to justify it.

The aphorism argues that dishonesty is not a single act but a doubled moral injury. The first lie targets another person, distorting their understanding and undermining trust. The second lie is internal: the rationalization that makes the outward deception feel permissible—“I had to,” “it doesn’t matter,” “they deserve it.” Brault highlights how self-justification is the mechanism that allows lying to become habitual, because it protects the liar from guilt and preserves a flattering self-image. The quote’s force lies in shifting attention from social consequences to the quieter, corrosive cost of eroding one’s own integrity.