The “Three Gates” as Lie Detectors

Steven Barnes
6 min readAug 12, 2020

Is it True? Is it Useful? Is it Kind?

Applying these three “Gates” can not only strengthen your character, but put you on a bedrock where you can leverage your strengths more fully.

For instance: if you prize honesty, you are more likely to be honest. And it will be easier to recognize others when they are dishonest.

People whose behaviors conflict with their statements ABOUT those behaviors are dishonest.

People who excuse dishonesty in others cannot be trusted to be honest.

Steven Barnes

Steven Barnes is a NY Times bestselling author, ecstatic husband and father, and holder of black belts in three martial arts. www.lifewritingpodcast.com.