You know, “A lie that makes someone delighted and spreads joy” really gets to the heart of what we do in marketing. It’s not about deception; it’s about the power of a story that fulfills a desire. Let’s break down what Seth Godin was really getting at here.
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Meaning
It’s the difference between a story that fulfills a worldview and a lie that causes genuine harm.
Explanation
Look, here’s the thing. This quote has been a north star for me in my work. Godin isn’t giving us a license to lie. He’s reframing what a “lie” even is in the context of storytelling. A “lie” that delights is an authentic story that resonates so deeply with someone’s existing worldview that it feels true to them. It’s the feeling you get from a brand that perfectly aligns with your values. The deceit that hurts? That’s the old way of marketing—the bait-and-switch, the fine print, the fake news. One builds a connection; the other destroys trust. And in today’s world, trust is the only currency that really, truly matters.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (4111) |
| Category | Wisdom (465) |
| Topics | ethics (22), perception (42), truth (91) |
| Literary Style | reflective (256) |
| Overall Quote Score | 76 (135) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Seth Godin’s 2005 book, All Marketers Are Liars, which he later retitled All Marketers Tell Stories to drive the point home. It was published in the United States. Sometimes people misattribute this kind of thinking to other business gurus, but this core idea is pure Godin.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Seth Godin (100) |
| Source Type | Book (4617) |
| Source/Book Name | All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World (57) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1995) |
| Original Language | English (4111) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4617) |
Author Bio
Seth Godin writes and teaches about marketing, leadership, and creative work. After earning an MBA from Stanford, he founded Yoyodyne, sold it to Yahoo!, and later launched ventures like Squidoo and the altMBA. He has authored bestsellers such as Permission Marketing, Purple Cow, Tribes, Linchpin, and This Is Marketing. He posts daily at seths.blog and speaks globally about making work that matters. If you’re starting with the Seth Godin book list, expect insights on trust, storytelling, and shipping creative projects that change culture.
| Official Website | Facebook | X
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | A lie that makes someone delighted and spreads joy is far different from a deceit that hurts |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2005; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781591841009; Last edition: Portfolio Penguin 2012; Number of pages: 240. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 1: Lies and Truth, page 9, 2012 edition |