PREFACE.

That there was need of a book on the subject of which this treats,will be evidenced to those who examine its contents. Whether this bookmeets the need, it is for those to decide who are its readers.

The circumstances of its writing are recited in its opening chapter. Iwas urged to the undertaking by valued friends. At every step in itsprogress I have been helped by those friends, and others. For muchof that which is valuable in it, they deserve credit. For itsimperfections and lack, I alone am at fault.

Although I make no claim to exhaustiveness of treatment in thiswork, I do claim to have attempted a treatment that is exceptionallycomprehensive and thorough. My researches have included extensive andvaried fields of fact and of thought, even though very much in thosefields has been left ungathered. What is here presented is at leastsuggestive of the abundance and richness of the matter available inthis line.

While not presuming to think that I have said the last word on thisquestion of the ages, I do venture to hope that I have furnished freshmaterial for its more intelligent consideration. It may be that, inview of the data here presented, some will settle the question finallyfor themselves—by settling it right.

If the work tends to bring any considerable number to this practicalissue, I shall be more than repaid for the labor expended on it; forI have a profound conviction that it is the question of questions inethics, now as always.

H. CLAY TRUMBULL.

PHILADELPHIA,

August 14,1893

CONTENTS.

I.

A QUESTION OF THE AGES.

Is a Lie Ever Justifiable?—Two Proffered Answers.—Inducements
and Temptations Influencing a Decision.—Incident in Army Prison
Life.—Difference in Opinion.—Killing Enemy, or Lying to
Him.—Killing, but not Lying, Possibility with God.—Beginning of this
Discussion.—Its Continuance.—Origin of this Book.

II.

ETHNIC CONCEPTIONS.

Standards and Practices of Primitive Peoples.—Sayings and Doings of
Hindoos.—Teachings of the Mahabharata.—Harischandra and
Viswamitra, the Job and Satan of Hindoo Passion-Play.—Scandinavian
Legends.—Fridthjof and Ingeborg.—Persian Ideals.—Zoroastrian Heaven
and Hell.—"Home of Song," and "Home of the Lie."—Truth the Main
Cardinal Virtue with Egyptians.—No Hope for the Liar.—Ptah, "Lord
of Truth."—Truth Fundamental to Deity.—Relatively Low Standard
of Greeks.—Incidental Testimony of Herodotus.—Truthfulness of
Achilles.—Plato.—Aristotle.—Theognis.—Pindar.—Tragedy of
Philoctetes.—Roman Standard.—Cicero.—Marcus Aurelius.—German
Ideal.—Veracity a Primitive Conception.—Lie Abhorrent among Hill
Tribes of India.—Khonds.—Sonthals.—Todas.—Bheels.—Sowrahs.—
Tipperahs.—Arabs.—American Indians.—Patagonians.—Hottentots.—
East Africans.—Mandingoes.—Dyaks of Borneo,—"Lying Heaps."—Veddahs
of Ceylon.—Javanese.—Lying Incident of Civilization.—Influence of
Spirit of Barter.—"Punic Faith."—False Philosophy of Morals.

A LIE NEVER JUSTIFIABLE

BY

H. CLAY TRUMBULL