What phrase about deception is repeatedly associated with Gregory House in House M.D.?

“Everybody lies” is the recurring phrase associated with Gregory House in House M.D.

House uses the phrase to express his belief that patients, relatives, colleagues, and institutions routinely conceal information. In the show’s diagnostic logic, a hidden fact can explain why symptoms appear inconsistent or why an initial diagnosis fails.

The idea became one of the series’ signature themes and is often used to introduce or summarize a case. It also reflects House’s broader distrust of social behavior: he frequently assumes that people protect themselves before they tell the complete truth.

The phrase should not be confused with the name of an episode or with the show’s title. “Everybody Lies” is most strongly recognized as House’s recurring maxim, although the series uses related wording in dialogue and promotional material. The maxim is a fictional character’s worldview, not a medical rule.