Is there a difference between lying and not telling the whole story?

I think it depends if it is going to hurt someone or not, I hate lies, when I was married to my first husband I had an affair long story but it was well over between us, I have explained in another post. I am married to my second husband 22 years I never had an affair or cheated on him. I never told him I had an affair when I was married before because I know he would have spent his time wondering if I would do it when I was married to him, I know he would because that is what he is like worrys about everything sometimes I thought maybe Ishould tell him but to this day I am glad I have not.

Regardless of whether it is lying or just withholding information both are issues against veracity so I guess it is of the same kind... it is still an offense you committed against that person that I'm pretty sure you don't want to be committed against you... in one way or another your subconscious mind would never be at peace about such an issue... you will battle with yourself in defending the gravity of your acts... although I presume you would rather withhold information in order to avoid fights with your loved one... I'd rather advise you to not do anything against your loved one that will trigger a fight so that you will never be haunted by your conscience for wthholdng information... rather than force you to tell the truth... "Honesty is good but above honesty a clear conscience is better..."-drsparkle314

If she ask you and you only tell half of the story then it is lying but if you are just telling some bits of the story without her asking then i don't think its consider as lying. But for me to have a clean conscience better tell everything so that there won't be any worries.

yeah it is cause you know in the back of your mind that your hiding something from your partner that your leaving outta the story that your currently telling them , and making them beleive that your telling the truth , for me i couldnt do that cause my mind wont let me dont it , it always bites at me all the time i guess thats a good thing

Technically, yes. One is lying, the other is withholding information.

Hi My personal feeling is that it is still lying, just lying by omission, and can cause the same awful fallout as when someone finds out that you are lying to them, even if you just neglected to tell them something. Of course it is for the individual to guage whether or not to tell. In some instances it may be better to take the chance of the person finding out, rather than hurting the. But that will depend on what it is that you are not wanting to share. Again, I still believe it is the same thing. Violetdreamslingerie

In my opinion yes. Telling half the story is a lie regardless. It only makes matters worse even just telling a partial. I myself hate a liar. I cannot ever forgive someone for not speaking the truth. It only hurts when you lie to someone. Maybe if you lied about something and you fear forgiveness, then maybe you should have never said anything in the first place. I think forgiveness can only be given to someone if they have the whole truth not just a portion. Once you lie, you have to tell another to cover the first one up! Not Nice! Would you want someone to lie to you?