Original artwork, not a still
In the world of advertising, there’s no such thing as a lie. There’s only expedient exaggeration.
— North by Northwest · 1959
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Roger gives advertising a slick excuse for stretching the truth. Calling a lie an expedient exaggeration makes it sound like a professional skill instead of dishonesty. It's a cynical, witty way to say the smile on a sales pitch may not be entirely honest.
Context reviewed
