Jack Rosenthal, "On Language: Frame of Mind" in The New York Times Magazine (21 September 1994)
Third Law
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When an official declares something false, chances are that it is. When he or she says it is absolutely false, chances are it is true. ... The overemphasis sticks out like Pinocchio's nose.
— Jack Rosenthal
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "When an official declares something false, chances are that it is. When he or she says it is absolutely false, chances are it is true. ... The overemphasis sticks out like Pinocchio's nose." in the context of "Jack Rosenthal, "On Language: Frame of Mind" in The New York Times Magazine (21 September 1994) Third Law" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Arthur C. Clarke" (Quotes about Clarke, Commentary on — or derivatives of — Clarke's Laws: First Law)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 1917 – 19 March 2008) was a British author, inventor and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Clarke were known as the "Big Three" of science fiction.
About Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 1917 – 19 March 2008) was a British author, inventor and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Clarke were known as the "Big Three" of science fiction.
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