Bits and Pieces

Meditations on Montaigne

9) Les Menteurs

Lying is an art, an act of self creation. We should be impressed with the liar for the suppleness of thought required to spin a believable lie and for the clear memory necessary to hold multiple fictions at once.

Liars damage themselves most of all. Lies disconnect the liar from reality and hold people at a distance. The most committed liars freely surrender wants and desires to keep from being caught.

I feel sorrow for liars, because I was one in my youth. I remain on guard for the quick and easy thoughts that can smooth moments but create trouble around the bend.

When faced with a liar, I rarely call them out. I try to give them space to escape their predicament. Often that is not enough. A liar needs to be broken of their habit and confront their own weakness. The final act of self creation for a liar is the embrace of an accountable self.