Story: The Man Who Learned To Lie

Harry came out of the womb quite honest.

But growing up, watching his mother and father, he learned the value of small lies. Lies about weight to not hurt feelings, lies about relatives they pretended to like, and, when he asked why they lied, lying about lying.

As an adult he also found periodic lies very useful. Truth hurt people. It was easier and less disruptive to lie--and if not to lie, at least to avoid the truth. Everyone felt better if he avoided the truth.

He learned further lies, and picked up some excellent techniques, by watching television commercials, listening to politicians, and reading newspapers, novels and almost everything on the internet. Lies were normal.

But although everyone felt better because of the lies, he eventually realized that if he was lying to other people, they were all lying to him. Harry began to get depressed. He did not know who to trust, or what anyone really felt about him. People who smile at him whether they liked him or hated his guts.

He began using drugs.

When his doctor told him to stop, he lied to his doctor and said he had stopped. He then lied to himself that he would stop. He continued lying to himself right up to the day he died from an overdose.