This quote is often attributed to Mark Twain, though its exact origin is uncertain. It captures a practical wisdom about honesty: lying forces you to keep track of a fabricated story, while truth-telling is effortless because reality itself serves as your memory. The aphorism resonates across ethical, psychological, and even legal contexts, highlighting how integrity simplifies life. Its wit lies in flipping the usual moral argument for honesty into a matter of sheer convenience.