But in a world of harsh realities, the unvarnished truth is a bogus virtue. There must be a measure of truth in advertising, but we are not obliged to advertise ugly and painful truths gratuitously, particularly not about others. The really harmful lies are deceptions. The temptation to deceive others for one's personal gain prompts some politicians and salesmen to tell tall ones to voters and consumers. A new biography of John D. Rockefeller Senior reveals that his father actually sold snake oil medicine.
Physicians deceive when they withhold information from patients with deadly illnesses.
Even Martin Luther justified lies for the good of the church. The awkwardness, of course is that, when we decide to lie, for whatever reason, we are in bad company - the devil himself. E.W. Scripps Publications , All Rights Reserved. Site users are subject to our User Agreement . We also have a Privacy Policy .