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    On the Decay of the Art of Lying
    On the Decay of the Art of Lying
    On the Decay of the Art of Lying
    Ebook25 pages19 minutes

    On the Decay of the Art of Lying

    By Mark Twain

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateFeb 1, 2008
    Author

    Mark Twain

    Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was an American humorist and writer, who is best known for his enduring novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has been called the Great American Novel. 

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    Reviews for On the Decay of the Art of Lying

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    • 5/5
      What a delight! It was too short. Mark Twain's wit and sarcasm is evident here. It was a great short read for the night, only 32 pages. They call it a "book", so I'm taking it. :)
    • 5/5
      A cheeky little read from a master of wit and sarcasm. Twain once again exposes a truth, some may be uncomfortable with, but does it in such a stylish manner that you'll be laughing at yourself and humanity by the end.

    Book preview

    On the Decay of the Art of Lying - Mark Twain

    The Project Gutenberg EBook of On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

    Title: On the Decay of the Art of Lying

    Author: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

    Release Date: September 15, 2004 [EBook #2572]

    Language: English

    *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON THE DECAY OF THE ART OF LYING ***

    ON THE DECAY OF THE ART OF LYING

    by Mark Twain [Sameul Clemens]

    ESSAY, FOR DISCUSSION, READ AT A MEETING OF THE HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN CLUB OF HARTFORD, AND OFFERED FOR THE THIRTY-DOLLAR PRIZE.[*]

    [*] Did not take the prize.

    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 best and surest friend, is immortal, and cannot perish from the earth while this club remains. My complaint simply concerns the decay of the art of lying. No high-minded man, no man of right feeling, can contemplate the lumbering and slovenly lying of the present day without grieving 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

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