On Lying
Augustine's early treatise on lying written circa 395, examining the moral complexities of truth-telling and establishing the Christian obligation to honesty. He distinguishes this work from his later treatise 'Against Lying.'
22 Chapters
Table of Contents
1
On Lying
2
Introduction
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Section 1. There is a great question about Lying, which often arises in the midst of
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Section 6. On the other hand, those who say that we must never lie
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Section 7. Neither do they confess that they are awed by those citations from the Old
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Section 9. But if no authority for lying can be alleged
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Section 10. As concerning purity of body; here indeed a very honorable regard seems to come
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Section 11. But if any man supposes that the reason why it is right for a
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Section 12. Thus has the question been on both sides considered and treated
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Section 22. What then, if a homicide seek refuge with a Christian
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Section 24. But one sometimes comes to a case of this kind
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Section 27. As, when we read in the Gospel, |Thou hast received a blow in the
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Section 28. It is also written, |But I say unto you
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Section 29. As that, |Take no thought for the morrow
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Section 30. Moreover, it was said to the Apostles that they should take nothing with them
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Section 31. Thus then what is written, |The mouth that lieth
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Section 32. Manifestly also in the Gospel we find the mouth of the heart
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Section 35. Moreover what is written |Thou wilt destroy all that speak leasing
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Section 36. For, concerning FALSE witness, which is set down in the ten commands of the
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Section 38. Certain it is, albeit all this disputation go from side to side
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Section 41. There resulteth then from all these this sentence
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Section 43. So great blindness, moreover, hath occupied men's minds