When, if ever, is it morally okay to lie?

[Katrina_5]

[slatyb]

When it is done for the comfort of another person. For example, when Martin Short's wife contracted breast cancer, and the lab results were showing that the cancer was returning, he lied to her about the lab results until she became ill. He told her that he had been lying and she replied "You did the right thing."

Lying is unethical when it is done to obtain something from another person that they would not provide if they knew the truth. This could be many things: willingness to continue a relationship, willingness to complete a commercial transaction, willingness to provide assistance, etc.

[Cyfris]

This is a tough one. I personally am a truth regardless of consequence guy but I am still going to lie my face off to the taliban and tell them whatever they want to hear if I am being tortured and it can possibly save my life. Is it moral to do so I believe not but I doubt that would stop me.

[Ms_Facesitter]

I don't find it okay to lie, it just sucks that lying is sometime the better option. My mom's a helicopter parent, used to drive me nuts, made little things into big drama disasters. If I went through something or had a problem, my best bet was to solve it myself, because telling her would make everything more difficult. Extra stress in her life, more in mine, more pain. I'll always tell her I'm fine, even when I'm not.

[thegreenyogi]

If it's really necessary to protect another person if his or her life depend on it.

[thegreenyogi]

Thanks!

[BCRanger10]

To outright lie? Never.

However, it is acceptable to misdirect, be ambiguous, use mental reservations, exaggerate, and so forth. And moral philosophers and theologians, believe it or not, identify a difference between lying and deceiving. Lying is a direct statement of something that is false. To deceive is to simply do what I've already listed and leave it to the recipient of the information (or lack thereof).

There's a great presentation by a priest, Father Chris Alar, about thus exact question. It's about an hour and a half long, but definitely worth the listen...

https://www.youtube.com/live/dnH-nGyb_6w?si=Ejb2OAHlxFVWD2iX

[FunkyMonkee]

White lies are usually okay.
You're planning a surprise b-day party for someone so you have to hide it from them by telling them lies.

Telling your kids about Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny and The Tooth Fairy.

Becoming a magician.

Telling your kids a partial lie to keep them from being scared or upset over something.

Telling a debtor that the money's already on the way to them when you still haven't sent it but are just about to. You're not cheating them out of it, you're just a bit late sending it to them.

Stuff like that.

[Static_In_The_Attic]

If a girls asks if she looks FAT instead of saying YES a lie is OKAY in this case.

I told the truth & said YES & she never talked me again.

[Abbycado]

Also okay to tell a little fib that Samsung 42" 1080p is the best on the planet.

[Static_In_The_Attic]

@Abbycado a little fib it might be on our planet however on his planet a fib it is not.

[DarKnight36]

What's acceptable about a lie?

I've heard the lie "My love, you will be my first" from Turkish women so many times that my ears are damaged, I went to the doctor.

[queenofcardio]

If the truth will cause unnecessary suffering.

[Agape93]

Depends on your morals. I have 0 issue lying if I want or need to

[Jeff51]

Never ok but I think a lot has told small white lies

[jahaims]

When the person isn't respectable or if it's for your family without negatively impacting a loved one.

[Anonymous]

If it saves your own ass