“Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie: A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby.”

(-; I like it ;-)

Lying, is like a spider web, the more lies one tells, the ore he must tell, until the web covers all. Case in point, the current admin.

Tell the truth all the time and be prepared for trouble. If your wife asks if a certain garment makes her look fat, you may want to shade the truth a bit, or else. When people were hiding Jews from the Ghestapo, I doubt that they would want to tell the truth if asked about it. Sometimes a lie is the better way to go.

When in doubt tell the truth ~ Mark Twain. Unless it would do someone unneccesary harm, I am usually brutally honest. And I will publicly embarrass a Socialist at every opportunity. ;-) (it's just too easy LOL)

Compassion tempers the truth without taking anything away from it. "Does this dress make me look fat?" "No, it's not the dress." or "You look beautiful in that dress." But jim brings up a point -- does lying to someone who does not want to hear the truth help? If the woman avoids facing the truth, how does that manifest in her life? And who is responsible for being fat? And who cares? And who bought the dress and why? The truth often hurts - -especially when you have Carlton around. ;-) That's where the Love comes in. For me, a good religion is one that embraces both Truth and Love -- not just in words but in the practioner's actions. Religion is not a get-out-of-hell-free card. It is a philosophy and a code of behavior intended to avoid hell on Earth and promote heaven on Earth. Amen. ;-)

I also like the other quote..."Tell the truth, it is easier to remember." And, when it comes to dress sizes, not every question requires an answer. If pressed, the response should be the simple reflective question...'Why do you ask?" Then, get into her childhood, difficulties with parents, lack of friends as a means of filling the evening.