--- Julian Barnes quoted by Edmund de Waal on "By Design" podcast of the the Sir John Soane's Museum in conversation with Will Gompertz, at
The best writing is an essential truth wrapped in a beautiful lie
There seem to be many variations of this expression, including
“We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth,” Picasso, quoted in BooksAtWork
“The best lie is wrapped around a core of truth,” Michael Scott, The Magician, quoted in Goodreads“fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth,” Albert Camus quoted by Paul Marks
