I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness.
– William Shakespeare
Othello, Act 2, Scene 3. Iago makes this ironic reply when Cassio thanks him for his advice and help after being fired as Othello’s lieutenant. Iago lies when he tells him that he has done this out of love, when the reality is he using Cassio to destroy Othello. The man with an unequaled flair for deception also refers to himself as honest. But Iago just wants to appear that way to others, so he can better deceive them.