Sanhedrin 29B

״לא היו דברים מעולם״⁠ – הוחזק כפרן.

These matters never occurred, i.e., I never admitted to this, the defendant assumes the presumptive status of one who falsely denies his debts, as the witnesses heard his admission. Consequently, he is not trusted to take an oath that he is exempt.

אמר רב פפא בריה דרב אחא בר אדא, הכי אמרינן משמיה דרבא: כל מילי דכדי לא דכירי אינשי.

Rav Pappa, son of Rav Aḥa bar Adda, says: This is what we say in the name of Rava: The defendant is not rendered a liar, because people do not remember all frivolous matters. Since the admission was not made seriously, perhaps the defendant forgot the incident. Therefore, his denial of its having occurred was not necessarily an outright lie.

ההוא דאכמין ליה עדים לחבריה בכילתיה. אמר ליה: ״מנה לי בידך״. אמר ליה: ״הן״. אמר: ״עירי ושכבי ליהוו עלך סהדי״. אמר ליה: ״לא״. אמר רב כהנא: הא אמר ליה ״לא״.

The Talmud relates: There was a certain man who hid witnesses in the canopy above his bed to hear the statement of another. That certain man said to him: I have 100 dinars in your possession. The latter said to him: Yes. The claimant then said: Let those awake and those asleep bear witness about you, hoping to induce him to agree to this testimony, as the respondent might assume that everyone was asleep. The latter said to him: No. When the matter came to court Rav Kahana said: Since he said no to him, his admission did not render him liable.

ההוא דאכמין עדים בקיברא לחבריה, אמר ליה: ״מנה לי בידך״. אמר ליה: ״הן״. חיי ומיתי ליהוו עלך סהדי, אמר ליה: ״לא״. אמר רבי שמעון [בן לקיש]: הא אמר ליה ״לא״.

The Talmud relates another incident: There was a certain man who hid witnesses in a grave to hear the statement of another. That certain man said to him: I have 100 dinars in your possession. The latter said to him: Yes. The claimant then said: Let the living and the dead bear witness about you. The respondent said to him: No. R' Shimon said: Since he said no to him, his admission did not render him liable.