1
Tychiades Philocles, what is it that makes most men so fond of a lie? Can you explain it? Their delight in romancing themselyes is only equalled by the earnest attention with which they receive other people’s efforts in the same direction.
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Philocles Why, in some cases there is no lack of motives for lying, —motives of self-interest.
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Tychiades Ah, but that is neither here nor there. I am not speaking of men who lie with an object. There is some excuse for that: indeed, it is sometimes to their credit, when they deceive their country’s enemies, for instance, or when mendacity is but the medicine to heal their sickness. Odysseus, seeking to preserve his life and bring his companions safe home, was a liar of that kind. The men I mean are innocent of any ulterior motive: they prefer a lie to truth, simply on its own merits; they like lying, it is their favourite occupation; there is no necessity in the case. Now what good can they get out of it?
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Philocles Why, have you ever known any one with such a strong natural turn for lying?
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Tychiades Any number of them.
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Philocles Then I can only say they must be fools, if they really prefer evil to good.
