Lying, which is usually used to deceive someone, is not always used to do so. Most people conclude that lying is bad, and people should never lie under any circumstance. Samuel Butler once said, “Lying has a kind of respect and reverence with it. We pay a person the complement of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to him.” While lying is frowned upon, one would rather lie to escape their difficult situation than face it.
Believe it or not, lying is very difficult. One who can come up with a lie on the spot is truly a gifted person. They have a get-out-of-jail-free card for any complication. Another bright side is that they can work well under pressure. When someone can come up with a ludicrous and yet believable lie in the nick of time, they are to be appreciated rather than being branded a liar. Further, since it is laborious, one who can lie should be acknowledged instead of being overlooked by society.
White lies, put simply, are trivial lies told to spare someone's feelings. This phrase gives us the impression that these deceptions are inconsequential. For instance, when someone comes up to you and says it's been a long time and asks if you remember them, you instantly say “Of course! I remember you” to avoid the embarrassment. Another commonly used white lie is when we say that we’re five minutes away when we’re nowhere in the destination's vicinity. Instead of telling the truth, we lie in demanding scenarios all the time, mostly to spare someone’s feelings and sometimes to get away with being late or lazy. We are often conflicted when we lie and spend a lot of time and energy wrestling with our decision. When lying to help the other person is perceived to be good, lying as a whole cannot be considered terrible.
William Blake once said, “A truth that's told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent.”
So, telling the truth is not always ideal in every situation, but telling the truth makes other people respect you and encourages them to be truthful with you. Every aspect of your life is more fulfilling because of the powerful, life-changing ties that honesty creates. However, it is now known that individuals with altruistic intentions are perceived to be honest even when they lie. In conclusion, it doesn't matter if you lie or tell the truth, the intention behind is what matters at the end of the day. While telling the truth is the best option in most scenarios, when push comes to shove, telling a few white lies will not do any harm.
