- Natasha: Eric, how did you get this way?
- Eric Ericson: What way?
- Natasha: So smart.
- Eric Ericson: My father was a mathematics professor.
- Natasha: But this not lying at all. Where did that come from? IBM?
- Eric Ericson: No, from my father. "Truth", he said, "is what it's all about; life, love, everything".
- Natasha: But within limits, Eric.
- Eric Ericson: No, that's just the point; once you begin to lie, even little lies, you open the door and they come swarming in on you - half the miseries of the world - crime, ignorance, spies, wars. Take wars - do you know one war, Natasha, the wasn't based on lies? Outright lies?
- Natasha: But you can't live that way; not one person alone. You can't.
- Eric Ericson: I won't say it's easy. In fact, as my father was about to die - I was at his side - he said "Eric, I take it back - you must learn to lie, you can't live that way".
- Natasha: You see?
- Eric Ericson: But when I think of the trouble that people who do lie get into... No!