“ An habitual truth-teller is simply an impossible creature; he does not exist; he never has existed. ”
Mark Twain, On the Decay of the Art of Lying (1880). copy citation
| Author | Mark Twain |
|---|---|
| Source | On the Decay of the Art of Lying |
| Topic | truth |
| Date | 1880 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2572/pg2572-images.html |
Context
“and those whom a sick conscience worries into habitual violation of the maxim are imbeciles and nuisances." It is strong language, but true. None of us could live with an habitual truth-teller; but thank goodness none of us has to. An habitual truth-teller is simply an impossible creature; he does not exist; he never has existed. Of course there are people who think they never lie, but it is not so—and this ignorance is one of the very things that shame our so-called civilization. Everybody lies—every day; every hour; awake;”
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