Chapter 39 Seventh and Fourth Art: Lying is also a kind of eloquence

A lie is a lie.Traditional Chinese morality requires us to be an upright gentleman who does not tell lies, of course this is correct.However, lies are not all synonymous with treachery, and lying is not without merit.On special occasions, as an expedient measure, people have to tell some lies as an excuse to shirk, and sometimes it can make interpersonal relationships more harmonious or make negotiations go smoothly. This is an indisputable fact. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and Ocid used lies in the dialogue, which is very thought-provoking: Su asked: Child stealing, right? Ou answered:

wrong. Su asked: Insulting people, right? Ou answered: wrong. Su asked again: Is it right to steal enemy items in order to lure them? Ou answered: right. Su asked again: Insulting the enemy, right? Ou replied: right. Socrates argued: You just said that stealing and insulting others is wrong, isn't the enemy human?Why are you right again? Oxide did not show weakness, and replied: That's because the targets are different. What I said just now was dealing with friends, but now I am talking about dealing with enemies. Socrates went on to ask: If a general, seeing the morale of his men was low, lied to them that help was coming, thus boosting morale and making the war a success, would it be right to tell such a lie?

Oxide replied confidently: right. Socrates argued again, asking: Soldiers and children are our own people. You just said that things that are wrong can only be done to the enemy, so how can you do it to your own people?Isn't it contradictory? Ossid couldn't answer. Oxide really couldn't answer this question clearly.Because the general used a lie to boost morale and win the war. Isn't it right to tell a lie? People's hearts are fragile, although they will not believe obvious lies, but if one percent of them are true; the other ninety-nine percent will ignore their existence even if they are lies.

In the seventeenth century, the British statesman Henry.Sir Wharton once said: The so-called diplomats refer to honest people who are sent abroad for the purpose of telling lies. This statement certainly shows that diplomatic work cannot be separated from lies, but in fact, it is more than diplomatic work?It should be said that good lying is also a kind of eloquence skills.However, lying is a manifestation of dishonesty after all. It not only deceives others, but also deceives oneself if used incorrectly. It is not an expedient measure and should not be used indiscriminately.