Truth always finds a way to shine much like a well-polished mirror reflecting our own integrity.
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In Indian culture, there is a long-standing tradition of elders emphasising the importance of truthfulness to younger generations, often sharing stories about the consequences of dishonesty. Our mythological epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are prime examples of the moral and ethical values one should follow. The Mahabharata is a goldmine of stories illustrating the outcomes of lying and deceit — one could say it’s the original Game of Thrones, but with more dharma and fewer dragons.
Lying erodes trust. When lies become prevalent, trust deteriorates, and life becomes difficult as nothing can be relied upon — neither what is heard nor what is read. If lying were a sport, some people would be gold medallists! The moral debate surrounding lies often centres on the degree of harm they cause. Not all lies are perceived equally; the severity of a lie seems to correlate with the amount of harm it inflicts. Lies can be categorized into four types, each represented by a colour: white, grey, black, and red. There is a Tamil saying that suggests one should “learn to steal and then forget (Kalavum katru mara)”, implying that while we may understand dishonesty, we must follow moral and ethical practices.
White lies are altruistic and harmless. They are told with the intention of helping others, even at some cost to the liar. These lies have no selfish, hidden, or ulterior motives. For example, if a dementia patient repeatedly asks about the arrival of a husband who passed away years ago, a nurse might gently lie to avoid causing distress. In this case, the lie serves a compassionate purpose. I call it the “sugar-coated pill of deception” — it doesn’t taste great, but it makes life easier for everyone involved.
Most lies fall into the category of grey lies, a mix of helping others and protecting oneself. The shade of grey depends on the balance between the harm and help they provide. These lies often encourage positive outcomes. For instance, a father might claim he was an excellent cricketer in his youth to inspire his son to pursue excellence in cricket, even if he had never played the game himself. This is the kind of lie that creates cricketing legends — or at least, confident gully cricket players!
Black lies, however, are rooted in selfishness. These are told to benefit oneself at the expense of others, offering no gain to anyone but the liar. An example of a black lie might be someone claiming they attended the Republic Day parade in person, narrating exaggerated details to impress others, despite only watching it on television. This kind of dishonesty serves only the liar and can make others feel inferior. If lying was a currency, black liars would be billionaires!
Red lies are the most harmful and are driven by spite or revenge, often hurting both the liar and the victim. These lies are motivated by a desire to harm others, like cheating one of valuables. If there was an Olympics event for “self-destructive lying”, red liars would be on the podium.
The morality of a lie depends on its consequences. From this perspective, some lies can be considered good if they lead to positive outcomes, while others are bad if they cause harm. A lie that brings about good is seen as moral and acceptable, whereas a lie that results in harm is immoral and unacceptable in society.
Honesty is like a good filter — keeping your words clean and pure. A well-placed white lie may keep the peace, but a black or red lie will burn bridges faster than a flamethrower in a paper factory. So, before telling a lie, ask yourself: is it worth the trust you might lose ? As the old saying goes, “A half-truth is a whole lie,” and in the end, the truth always finds a way to shine much like a well-polished mirror reflecting our own integrity.
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Published – March 16, 2025 04:40 am IST