A lie is a statement, information, which is obviously not true to the truth. In another way, a lie can be called a deception, a lie. A person who spreads knowingly false information is trying to mislead another person or many people. He can lie, guided by unworthy motives - for example, for selfish purposes, or in order to compromise someone, and by using his deception to prevent even more trouble.
What are the reasons for lying
The dissemination of knowingly false information can be caused by a number of reasons. Very common cases are lies out of selfish motives, envy, ill will. That is, a liar expects either to receive a specific benefit, or to take revenge on some person by spreading false information and gossip about him.
Lying is a common (and, unfortunately, almost inevitable and irresistible) phenomenon in politics and business. The desire to attract attention, the sympathy of voters and potential clients pushes politicians and businessmen to deceive. It can be both relatively harmless, in the form of some exaggeration of the merits of one's own person or company, or large-scale - for example, when practically impossible promises are generously distributed and competitors are grossly denigrated, for example, in politics.
Lies can be unconscious. Overly emotional, impressionable people with a rich imagination are prone to it. When describing an event, a phenomenon, they are prone to exaggeration, omitting some details that do not fit into the outline of their story. Moreover, they often convince themselves and others that everything was exactly this way and not otherwise. A classic example is the stories about Baron Munchausen.
An extreme case of such a phenomenon is "pathological deceit", when a person deceives, experiencing an urgent need for it. Some experts classify it as a mental as well as social illness. Among the pathological liars there are many drug addicts, alcoholics, sociopaths, as well as people prone to narcissism, egocentrism.
Finally, it is not uncommon for a liar to spread false information because he himself was deceived. This is inherent in people who are too trusting, prone to gossip, for whom a reliable source of information is "one woman said."
Is it permissible to lie to salvation
However, there is a situation when people are forced to lie because the truth may be too painful, lead to dire consequences. This phenomenon has received a precise and eloquent name - "a lie for salvation." Up to certain limits, such a lie is quite acceptable, it is only important not to cross the border and not turn it into a system. And remember: it is better to tell the truth, because sooner or later the deception will be revealed, and then you will lose people's trust.
