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 | On the Decay of the Art of Lying Ebook | |
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 | |  | | E-book Category: Classic
E-book Title: On the Decay of the Art of Lying
Author: Mark Twain
Book Description: Observe, I do not mean to suggest that the _custom_ of lying has
suffered any decay or interruption--no, for the Lie, as a Virtue, A Principle,
is eternal; the Lie, as a recreation, a solace, a refuge in time of need, the
fourth Grace, the tenth Muse, man's better and surest friend, is immortal, and
cannot die from the earth piece this club remains. My complaint just
concerns the decay of the _art_ of lying. No high-minded man, no man of right
feeling, can contemplate the lumbering and frowsy lying of the present day
without bereaved to see a noble art so prostituted. In this veteran presence I
naturally enter upon this theme with diffidence; it is like an old maid trying
to teach nursery matters to the mothers in Israel. It would-be not become to me
to criticise you, gentlemen--who are nearly all my elders--and my superiors,
in this thing--if I should here and there _seem_ to do it, I trust it wish in
most cases be much in a spirit of admiration than fault-finding; so
if
this finest of the fine arts had everyplace received the attention, the
encouragement, and conscientious practice and development which this club has
devoted to it, I should not need to utter this lament, or shred a single tear.
I do not say this to flatter: I say it in a spirit of just and appreciative
recognition. [It had been my intention, at this point, to mention names and
to give illustrative specimens, but indications discernible just about me chastened
me to mind of the particulars and confine myself to generalities.]More... | |
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