I actually told a lie yesterday evening. Do you ever lie?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (206843)
Walnut Creek, California
April 12, 2021 10:30am CST
"You confess it--you actually confess it--you told a lie!"
So begins Mark Twain's short story, "Was it Heaven? Or Hell?"
Perhaps I'll summarize the story when I get home from work. It's probably my favorite Twain short story.
Yesterday, I told a lie. Am I bound for Hell?
The flaky preschool Director teacher called me early in the evening, asking me to come in for a couple of hours this (Monday) morning. I said yes.
But an hour later, the Assistant Directer called from the non-flaky preschool, where my birthday cake-baking friends play, and asked me to come in for four hours. I said yes.
I called back the flaky preschool Director and told her I had "forgotten" that I was working at the other place this morning.
I had not "forgotten." I had received a better offer. I lied.
When do you lie? Mark Twain says that everyone does, no matter how "righteous" we pretend to be.
21 people like this
21 responses
@marguicha (215993)
• Chile
12 Apr 21
I don´t have any problem. I am not "righteous"
But I do try not to hurt people. That can be done by saying the truth or by lying.
But I do try not to hurt people. That can be done by saying the truth or by lying.6 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45597)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
12 Apr 21
The most common lie is "I'm fine."
4 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45597)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
12 Apr 21
@vandana7 Someone asks "How are you?" and the askee responds "I'm fine" because they know the asker doesn't really want to know about all the aches and pains the askee may be feeling at the time.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (206843)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 Apr 21
@RebeccasFarm I would too. Unless I was Socrates. But I am not.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62518)
• United States
12 Apr 21
When do I lie? Only on days that end in Y. 
I’d lie about that, too, taking a better offer.
I’d lie about that, too, taking a better offer.5 people like this
@snowy22315 (170699)
• United States
13 Apr 21
Lying bothers me so I try not to lie to people..although I have been known to lie to companies..it just feels less wrong somehow..
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206843)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 Apr 21
I agree. I tend to sleep well, and I believe my overall "truthfulness" contributes to that. But I do occasionally tell white lies, or frame thing more pleasantly than I might ("sounds like you've been working on that song!"). Or just lie by omission.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40914)
• Wapello, Iowa
12 Apr 21
I don't know who this Mark Twain guy is...Is he related to Shania Twain?...but you can tell him I am the exception to his rule. I never lie. Well, I used to not be fully truthful about my age, which wasn't really lying, but now that I'm going to be 30 in 3 years, I don't care who knows it.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (40914)
• Wapello, Iowa
13 Apr 21
@TheHorse If you're right about him being a writer, he probably wrote some of her songs. Maybe he's her husband. For all I know, they could be the Country version of Sonny And Cher.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (40914)
• Wapello, Iowa
13 Apr 21
@TheHorse Or maybe he's her brother and it's a Donny & Marie type thing.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (206843)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 Apr 21
I think he was an American author. But I'm not sure. I DO know that I had to pretend to know about his writings to get through high school. Of course, I never actually read his books or short stories, choosing instead to do LSD in my high school parking lot during class time. Is he Shania Twain's dad or something?
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (43100)
• Staten Island, New York
12 Apr 21
A little lie cannot hurt anyone. Or can it? Let’s hope she doesn’t know about mylot.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (157489)
• United States
13 Apr 21
We all do...and no, you aren't going to Hell because of it.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
13 Apr 21
yep that is a lie - one of gain.
but, i suspect in the long run you have to balance the reality of bad situation vs good situation. It is ok to try to do the right things for you sometimes!
1 person likes this
@samysotelo18 (7744)
• Mexico
12 Apr 21
I can lie but It's better it I don't have to
2 people like this
@vandana7 (99009)
• India
12 Apr 21
Million times. But usually to evade some situation. I have always professed that I am a liar. Proudly too. If you have been in marketing department, you cannot help being a liar. It just gets into you..all that glib talking. But I was a liar even before. Just that the ratio increased many times over, and I perfected the art so to say.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134743)
• Roseburg, Oregon
13 Apr 21
You need to work where you get the best offer. I would.
@wolfgirl569 (95904)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Apr 21
I would have done the same with those offers. I lie when something will hurt someones feeling. If I catch myself before saying the truth
1 person likes this
