About this eBook. Author. Twain, Marco, 1835-1910. Title. On the decadence of the art of lying. Note. Discussion essay, read at a meeting of the Historical Institute and, ON THE DECAY OF THE ART OF MENTION. by Mark Twain Sameul Clemens ESSAY, FOR DISCUSSION, READ AT A HISTORIAN MEETING, On the Decay of the Art of Lying. Mark Twain. The Floating Press, - Literary Collections - On the Decay of the Art of Lying is a short essay, Mark Twain spoke of brazen and inept lying, while Oscar Wilde's lying meant "creativity", and lamented its decay. In this blog I do not aspire to such, The multifaceted art of lying. By Anatoly Liberman. Mark Twain gave a short speech entitled “On the Decay of the Art of Lying,” not the best nor the wittiest. I assume that Oscar Wilde did not miss the published text of that speech, since seven years later he published a sort of treatise in dialogue form. “Advice to Youth” is Mark Twain's satirical essay written. The author was asked to address something to America's youth, which he did in his own way. Regarding lying, the author states that it is of great importance to be "careful" and mentions the meaning of "safety" and "elegance".