Question

In the essay On the Decay of The Art of Lying, what makes Mark Twain argue that “the Lie, as a Virtue, A Principle, is eternal”? According to Mark Twain, what is a silent lie? What example does he give to demonstrate a silent lie? Why does he oppose injurious truth and injurious lying?

Answer 1

In his satirical essay “On the Decay of the Art of Lying,” Mark Twain argues that lying is an inescapable and necessary part of human social interaction. He treats it not as a sin, but as a neglected art that requires cultivation and care.

Why the Lie is an Eternal Virtue

• He believes that a person who insists on telling the truth at all times is often cruel and socially destructive.
• To Twain, the lie is eternal because it is a human instinct used to spare feelings, lubricate social friction, and provide comfort.
• He sarcastically laments that the art of lying is decaying, not that people have stopped lying, but that they have become clumsy and unskilful at it.

What is a “Silent Lie”?

• He considers the silent lie to be the most common and deceptive form of lying because the liar can pretend they haven’t said anything false.
• He argues that the man who wouldn’t utter a lie to save his soul will stand by and allow a false impression to persist through his silence.

Example of the Silent Lie: The Health Inquiry

• If the person feels terrible but smiles and says “Well, thank you,” or simply nods and looks pleasant while hiding a headache or a grievance, they are practicing a silent lie.
• Another example he gives is the nurses’ lies about a patient’s health, or a person sitting in a room pretending to agree with a conversation by not speaking up to correct a falsehood. He emphasizes that the refusal to speak is often the most potent lie of all.

Opposition to Injurious Truth and Injurious Lying

• Injurious Truth: He believes that telling a truth that causes unnecessary pain, destroys a reputation, or ruins someone’s happiness is a mean and cowardly act. To him, a truth told with a malicious heart is worse than a lie told with a kind heart.
• Injurious Lying: While he defends the charitable lie, he strongly opposes lying that is used to harm, cheat, or slander others.