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Deceiver Quotes

Short lines about turning deception back on itself.

These deceiver quotes all circle one classic idea: that fooling someone who built their reputation on fooling others carries its own particular satisfaction. Related takes on irony and consequence appear in Understandable quotes.

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Quotes by Jean de La Fontaine

It is a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Quotes by Jean de La Fontaine

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the idea behind quotes about deceiving a deceiver?
They play on the notion that outsmarting someone whose own game is trickery feels especially satisfying, almost like poetic justice.
Why do so many versions of this saying exist?
The same core idea about turning deception back on its source has been phrased slightly differently by different speakers over time.
Is this idea meant as revenge or something else?
It's generally framed less as revenge and more as irony, since the trickster becomes the one who gets tricked.
Does this theme apply outside of personal relationships?
It can apply broadly, from politics to storytelling, anywhere someone who relies on manipulation ends up outmaneuvered themselves.
Where can I find more quotes about irony and consequence?
Similar themes show up in Understandable quotes.

Though phrased slightly differently across versions, each line treats turnabout as a kind of justice rather than simple revenge, a theme also present in Alfred Noyes and Theo Von quotes.