On the Decay of the Art of Lying Annotated edition by Mark Twain Literature Fiction eBooks
Download As PDF : On the Decay of the Art of Lying Annotated edition by Mark Twain Literature Fiction eBooks 
“On the Decay of the Art of Lying” is one of the best-known satirical essaysby Mark Twain (pen-name of Samuel Clemens, 1865-1936). First published in 1880, it is a passionate apology of what Twain considers a vanishing art, spoiled by modernity.
“The wise thing is for us diligently to train ourselves to lie thoughtfully, judiciously; to lie with a good object, and not an evil one; to lie for others' advantage, and not our own; to lie healingly, charitably, humanely, not cruelly, hurtfully, maliciously; to lie gracefully and graciously, not awkwardly and clumsily; to lie firmly, frankly, squarely, with head erect, not haltingly, tortuously, with pusillanimous mien, as being ashamed of our high calling.”
This edition also contains a selection of Twain’s best aphorisms and a biographical note on the author.
On the Decay of the Art of Lying Annotated edition by Mark Twain Literature Fiction eBooks
Once again, Mark Twin is the master of essays, this time about lying. It's done in an over the top fashion, making you realize that we're all liars on a daily basis, and we do it reflexively but that it's a dying art.Twain argues that we don't lie for the right reasons, and we need to address that. The essay is a bit short but still poignant even today. Twain's at his best in this essay, and it's well worth the download - even better because it's free.
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On the Decay of the Art of Lying Annotated edition by Mark Twain Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
There is no beating Twain for humor and satire; he's as funny today as he was when he wrote his material. He delivers this, as I recall, to a number of men in a business not known for it's sincerity or truth. Great.
If you can find it on line, read Twain's "The Awful German Language" - the whole of it, and don't skip a thing. "The Awful German Language" has to be one of the inspirations for the styles of guys like Dave Barry - who have learned their lessons well and are pretty funny themselves.
This may be one of the greatest American writers that ever happened. At a time when the printed word could be disseminated in a hurry a few different ways and the daily's, weekly's, and periodicals covered the young nation, this guy wrote masterfully. With wit and wisdom and a great deal of entertainment. You may read many authors; few are as enjoyable as this great man.
This particular piece is illustrative and a few wonderful pages written at a time when people who were well spoken were held in high esteem. You'l enjoy this. Welcome to an American master.
An essay Twain wrote for a local club, apparently as part of a friendly competition for a prize of $30. Twain notes at the beginning that his entry did NOT win the $30. This is one of Twain's sharpest, funniest essays, in which he points out that lying is essential to civilization, so one ought to strive to do it as well as possible. Think of the poor untrained liar, Twain says, faced by a lawyer. Twain brilliantly and satirically manufactures noble reasons for an audience and culture who unconsciously and without viciousness have twisted their professed ideals. He's an Old Testament prophet with jokes.
The essay takes no time at all to read, but it packs a punch.
It is a typical piece by Clemens with his typical humorous sarcasm. It makes me smile to read it, especial to think that lying can have an ethical purpose as he suggests at the end "the wise thing is for us diligently to train ourselves to lie thoughtfully, judiciously; to lie with a good object, and not an evil one; to lie for others' advantage, and not our own; to lie healingly, charitably, humanely, not cruelly, hurtfully, maliciously; to lie gracefully and graciously, not awkwardly and clumsily; to lie firmly, frankly, squarely, with head erect, not haltingly, tortuously, with pusillanimous mien, as being ashamed of our high calling."
This quick read is awash with Twain's sly humor. In typical Twain fashion, he backhandedly compliments his audience (this was an essay read to an historical club for a potential cash prize) for the brands of lies and truths they tell. The issue isn't that people lie--he readily admits that we all do it--it's that people tend do it poorly and for all the wrong reasons.
The premise boils down to this Why tell a brutal truth when a harmless lie will save face for all involved? Why tell a malicious lie (or truth) at all? And if one chooses to lie, for heaven's sake, don't be clumsy about it.
While Mr. Twain didn't win any cash for his essay (and why would he, given that much of the text is dedicated to humorously poking the judges in the eye?), I thoroughly enjoyed it. His points are applicable and their presentation entertaining. It's surely worth the 15-minute investment--though apparently not worth thirty bucks to the Historical and Antiquarian Club of Hartford!
Classic Samuel Clemens--excellent use of language, both subtle and obvious humor, with a good dose of philosophy and insight into human nature thrown in so well that you don't even realize you're "learning"--until you finish the book, and find yourself thinking about it later. I firmly believe Samuel Clemens is incapable of writing a "bad" book, and having the chance to read this old friend again is a real pleasure. If you're new to the experience--or a seasoned user who BUYS books for , looking through the extensive list of free offerings is well worth the time, as there are a wide variety of old books that are just as entertaining and thought provoking today as they were when they were written--and this is one of those books.
Mark Twain may just be one of the best American writers to have graced my bookshelf. The man's sly wit, topical humor and easy-going manner make me love him more and more with each book I read.
This book is no exception. Tongue firmly in cheek, Twain informs the reader on the art of lying and how to be successful in pursuing it.
If you're a Twain fan, you'll want to read this book. And if you're not, you should read this book and become one!
Once again, Mark Twin is the master of essays, this time about lying. It's done in an over the top fashion, making you realize that we're all liars on a daily basis, and we do it reflexively but that it's a dying art.
Twain argues that we don't lie for the right reasons, and we need to address that. The essay is a bit short but still poignant even today. Twain's at his best in this essay, and it's well worth the download - even better because it's free.
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