The worst kind of brutal honesty (and I’ve poisoned many a well with this one) is trying to save people from making a stupid mistake. “Don’t marry her, she’s a whore” or “what the hell are you thinking, you want to throw away a full scholarship to become a beautician!?!” … and you don’t get any points back when the marriage fails or the hair and nails career is given up… you’re still the a**hole, and it’s even worse when you were right.

Many lies save others from having to act when they’d rather not, but would be obligated to on principle. The dog ate my homework lies allow teachers to give some leeway when “I am lazy and didn’t do it” would pretty much force them to give you an F. So made up car trouble, headaches, traffic, and grandparent’s illnesses allow us all a little space when obligations don’t.