Lying just for the fun of it is either art or pathology.
Every age develops its own peculiar forms of pathology which express in exaggerated form its underlying character structure.
Ascetics and fakirs come to mitigate human suffering to heal us and lead us on the path. They put up with criticism they go through many worldly trials. Some of them have even become martyrs for our sake. But they have done all this with a smile and with gratitude to God. Hence sacrifice is a great virtue.