Lies With Good Intentions: Justified or Excused?

In life, truth is encouraged to be told at all times because it's the best moral to stick with. Unfortunately, we still find ourselves telling lies in certain situations; it could just seem so difficult to avoid. But is it justifiable? Lies are lies no matter how we romance them.

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Right from my childhood , we were told to stick with the truth even if it means dying. Only the truth shall set us free was sung constantly in my ears back then while I was growing up. We were also reminded of the consequences of lies and why we should desist from them. A lie begets another lie, and it's a circle I hate to experience because that will be a stage where you won't know what to say anymore to keep covering up with lies. By the way, it's very stressful to lie; the truth is easier .

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Personally, I really don't like lies. I can do everything to avoid telling lies, maybe omit some words, or not give you an answer to your question just to avoid telling unnecessary lies, but yet, I find myself telling lies in certain situations for a reason that seems justifiable in human eyes, but is it the same in God's eyes? Okay, let me keep religion aside here because God frowns at lies, and so our religion never encourages them; yet, situations may arise and complicate issues , thus lies have to be told, not for selfish reasons anyway, but to prevent something bad from happening.

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The truth is that if anyone claims that he never told a lie, then that person is also telling a lie with such claims, lolz. When one is not used to lying, it is actually difficult to tell a lie even in a situation where it looks like telling lies is better than telling the truth. This is me!. On the other hand, when lying becomes a habit, it also becomes difficult to get rid of, and that could dent one's personality.

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Sometimes we tell lies because we believe it's the best in that situation, perhaps to save a life from severe consequences, but in everything , one should be careful not to make it a habit. Some lies are simply flimsy excuses, and deep down within ourselves , we know it. You know the intent of telling such a lie is not to protect others but obviously for your personal interest. It isn't justifiable , but some lies that are to protect others, not for your own benefit, seem a bit justifiable for us humans anyway.

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Take, for instance, last year in October , my mom was kidnapped on her way to Jos to visit my eldest brother. The incident cost her two phones, and my grandma was worried that she couldn't reach my mom on the phone. She kept lamenting that this is unlike her; if truly she is fine, she should have called her immediately she reached her destination. I had to lie to my grandma after I tried to make her relax without success. I couldn't reveal the situation because then, my mom was still in the hands of the kidnappers. Meanwhile , my grandma is suffering from high blood pressure. Imagine telling her the truth that my mom was kidnapped. She might just faint, and it could turn into a negative thing, maybe a loss of life?. So I lied to her that she lost her phone instead. This is just one example amongst others.

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On this note, I can say that some lies seem justifiable if they're actually for a good reason and not to manipulate anyone. Overall , we shouldn't make it a habit.

Images were taken from canva