"On the Decay of the Art of Lying" -Mark Twain

     It's a short essay. Automatically many are turned off by the title because it is 'unseemly'. I was not sure what to expect when reading it either, so I did my best to keep an open mind.

     I really like this essay even though there are many points I disagree with. Twain states that Christians or those aligning themselves with truth tend to be blunt and unnecessarily hurt other people's feelings. I use 'tact' . . . well try to at least.

Dictionary.com
Tact: adroitness or sensitivity in dealing with other's or difficult issues.
i.e. the inspector broke the news to me with tact and consideration. 

So What of the Essay: People have forgotten over time how to lie effectively in order to spare others from pain and ourselves.

Now, I do not completely agree with Mark Twain.

Love it!

"An injurious truth has no merit over an injurious lie. Neither should be uttered."

      I agree with him on this point. Any injurious statement should not be uttered. But there is a reason why I myself partake of the sacrament on Sunday because I am a sinner. Twain then goes on to explain the differences in the types of lying.

One of the lies that he explains is "the silent lie: You have left it to be inferred  that you had no fault to find the matter. "

     He then uses an example to show that excluding information or not giving any when some is known is in itself is lying. We think we are innocent when we do this yet we are guilty because we are not being honest or upfront.

     Towards the end Twain hinted that if we all lied with a care for other people first we wouldn't have ranks or 'the pestilent truth' as he put it.

     If we didn't corrupt so easily as humans this might be possible. Sadly, we are so selfish no matter how we try and repent all our lives we still indulge, hide things, hurt others, and seek power. That is what makes us human!

     We are a mixture of good and bad and we decide which one is winning. No other creature on this planet chooses consciously whether it wants to be chaste or villainous to the degree we do.

     I really enjoyed this short essay. check it out on your lunch break. There is a lot more that could be discussed but I will leave it at this. :) Great conversation starter too if you don't try to force others to your perspective. :D

P.S. Sorry if my posts seem at random times I am having a hard time finding a few minutes to post between my jobs. (I am blessed to have two part time jobs.)

                                                By: J Feistner