6. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die

Mastering the art of deception paradoxically requires cultivating a reputation for honesty—or, to be precise, a reputation for being a terrible liar. By ensuring your fibs are as subtle as a neon sign in a monastery, you establish yourself as someone who couldn’t possibly deceive anyone.

This strategy is akin to a magician telling you exactly how the trick is done, only to perform an entirely different trick. When the moment comes to tell a lie that truly needs to go unnoticed, your previously established ineptitude at deceit serves as the perfect camouflage.