On the Decay of the Art of Lying

by Mark Twain

It is beautiful, it is noble; for its object is, not to reap profit, but to convey a pleasure to the sixteen.

think that all this courteous lying is a sweet and loving art, and should be cultivated. The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of graceful and gilded forms of charitable and unselfish lying.