Truth Telling

Telling the truth requires a life lived without fear, self-delusion, omnipotence, grandiosity, self-seeking and self-pity.  We lie to others and ourselves out of a need for power, a need to be liked or a need to protect our own sense of self-worth.  Lying is an attempt to circumvent legitimate suffering and, hence, is productive of mental illness.  There are two types of lies: A black lie—a statement that we know is false; and a white lie, a statement that leaves out a significant part of the truth.  Peck gives five rules for truth telling:

1)    Never tell a black lie.

2)    Never withhold the truth for selfish reasons.

3)    Withholding the truth must be based on the needs of others.

4)    Withholding the truth must be based on genuine love for others.

5)    Withholding the truth must be based on helping others grow emotionally, intellectually or spiritually. 

In short, there are very, very few times when lying is justified.