Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.

The line is a sardonic maxim about political communication: public denials can function as signals that something is true, imminent, or being managed rather than refuted. It points to the strategic nature of official statements—crafted to shape perception, preserve negotiating room, or satisfy audiences—rather than to provide transparent facts. Read this way, the quote warns listeners to treat “official” language as part of the contest for power, where credibility is contingent and information is often indirect. Its enduring appeal comes from capturing a recurring pattern in diplomacy and domestic politics: the gap between what leaders say publicly and what they do privately.

1) "Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied." 2) "Never believe anything until it has been officially denied." 3) "In politics, nothing is believed until it is officially denied."