The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-15
Mark Twain on Lying.

Some day it will be understood that
Mark Twain is not only the greatest
American humorist but also one OF oul
greatest philosophers. Humor and philoso-
ply are near akin. and both rest on q
clear perception of the motives and ideas
which govern human nature. Both I'M
ceasingly war against CONTRADICTIONS, So
cial or political
In recent article on the subject 81
lying. Mr. Clemens in his own forcible
though transformations style, gives express
sion TO some important ideas. AS usual.
ne does it in a way which impresses the
reader more than whole book flll of ser
mons. You can read a sermon several
times and forget it in FIVE minutes after
each reading; but arguments put in a
humorous form stick in the memory That
is why. with instructive wisdom. Mark
Twain gives 10 his most serious opinions
the cutting edge of sarcasm He under
stands that nobody can come in contact
with them under these circumstances, and
not know IT,
He begins with a story about his FIRST
lie, which happened when he was rine
days cid. He pretended to be in pain in
order to obtain. as he says, a ration be-
tween meals From this he passes to the
general statement that almost all lies are
acts, and that the most effective false
hood is the one constructed on the ele-
mental principle which the infant. Samuel
Clemens. discovered In his cradle. He
calls it 1.-THE lie OF silent assertion" The
things that he says about this lie are
worth quoting
"Thc universal conspiracy Of the silent assertion
lie l. hard at work niHays and everywhere, and
always IN the interest Of stupidity or a si<-i,
regcr IN the interest u q thing fine or respect
able. Is 1t the most tmid and shabby Of all lie!
1t seems to have tho look Of IL. For ages and
ages it has rmtcly labored In tho interest Of
dcspojisus and arisoCraccs and chatiel sl9yerlcs,
and military slavcfies. and religious slsvcrlcs.
and has kept them alive; keeps them alive . Il,
here and there and yonder. all over the globe;
and will 20 on keeping them alive until tile
silent assertion liz reires from business silent
assertion that nothing Is going on which fair
and intelligent men ere aware oi and are engaged
by their duty 10 try to stop
Then he goes on to say that when whole
civilizations and nations and churches and
classes Of society are engaged in the per
petratlon Of silent-assertion lies it seems
rather ridiculous 10 be SO particular about
the triaing lies told by individuals. He
says:
.Wliv should We help the nation lie the whole
,lav long and then object 10 telling one little lndi-
vidusl private lie in cur own interest 10 go
10 bed OnT
II is a curious fact that mankind will
do ia a crowd what it has not the courage
TO do alone-what il would be ashamed to
do alone. Mark Twain pointed out that
fact many years ago. when he wrote
.Fuckloberry Finn" and described a mob.
There Is a sort OF mob morality which
does not in the least agree with priv le
standards 1t takes some independence and
courage 10 set up ones private Idea OF
right in the place Of this. Every man who
ever tried to upset a wrong system of
things has found that out. He will inter
view. perhaps twenty men. and try to get
.hem TO join with him in effecting his
very proper and necessary reform. They
ali say that they hope he will succeed.
Then Number One says: Eyes, ! know
that what you say is probably true, but ]
cannot afford 10 do anything about #, for
my business will suffer" Number Two
says: II know It is all so. but do not be-
Jieye your reform win do any good"
Number Three says: Il am sure you tell
me the truth. but II / help you some of my
friends viii lose their jobs" Number
-Four says. Il don't know that anything IS
Tho. matter and ! haven't the time TO in
vestisate." Number Five says: 81 don't
inos anything about IT. and / don't want
20 know And Of the twenty perhaps one
or two Will promise to support. openly.