Thursday, August 31, 2006

The essential sincerity of falsehood (J. Conrad)


I’m sure this never happens to you.
You are telling the truth, but it sounds so outrageously like a lie that your facial expressions and tone of voice make everything even worse.
Consider what I told Madge this morning.
“It’s the weirdest thing. When I went to bed last night I finally found your tooth. [The one we lost during the day because Madge gave it to me while Coco and I were napping and my grip isn’t the most secure when I’m sleeping.] As I was moving the covers, I saw something move and there was the tooth. I tried to wake you when I put it under your pillow, but you were too fast asleep. And now there’s the dollar. Cool.”
This is all true. I’m better off lying.

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