What phrase about patients’ statements is famously repeated by House in House M.D.?

House famously repeats the phrase “Everybody lies” in House M.D. The line expresses his belief that patients may conceal facts, misunderstand symptoms, or provide inaccurate accounts, making direct testimony an unreliable part of diagnosis.

The phrase functions as a dramatic principle for the series. House and his team investigate behavior, medical records, physical evidence, and test results rather than accepting a patient’s story without scrutiny. It also reflects House’s broader distrust of ordinary social behavior.

“Everybody lies” is not the show’s title or its series-finale title. It is a recurring line associated with House’s diagnostic philosophy. The finale, “Everybody Dies,” echoes the wording while shifting the subject from truthfulness to mortality, which is why the two phrases are often discussed together.