The Maxim of Quality can be a very tricky one. Violation of this maxim can be the use of sarcasm to negate the sentiment of the statement made (O'Grady, p. 237). I fell victim to a violation of the maxim a few years ago over several conversations with a young man named Scott. He and I have a very flirtatious friendship and whenever he doesn't want to do something I would always violate the maxim and sarcastically reply that it must be because he hates me. One time we actually got into a disagreement and he flippantly said "or maybe it's because I really do hate you". That comment was in reference to my joking about how much he really likes me. Coming from his mouth though, it stopped our phone conversation in its tracks. I actually questioned if he really didn't like me at all based on the intonation and inflection in his statement. Luckily he was just violating the Maxim of Quality and (secretly) loves me and the time we spend together.
I think actually reflecting on on this conversation that we were both guilty of violations and probably should've avoided sarcasm from the start.
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