wenn es nicht wahr ist, dann ist es gut erfunden
German
Alternative forms
- wenn es nicht stimmt, dann ist es gut erfunden
- wenn may be replaced with inversion; dann may be left out or replaced with so
Etymology
Calque of Italian se non è vero, è ben trovato (“if it isn't true, it's well invented”).
Phrase
wenn es nicht wahr ist, dann ist es gut erfunden
- Though the anecdote is perhaps not factual, it is nevertheless worthwhile to tell it, because it is amusing or expresses a truth.