Define a lie...define a truth

I don't belive that truthfulness or lack thereof is in the actual words used, but more in the meaning of what you say. For example: A friend invites you to dine at a meal that they've prepared from scratch. You know that they spent a lot of time on it, and prepared it in a loving fashion. Yet, when you take that first bite, it's all you can do not to spit it out or grimace because it tastes so bad. Who knows, it could just include an ingredient that you don't like, not that the food itself is bad. When they ask (proudly) what you think, to save their feelings you might tell them that it's delicious. Without specifically saying 'yes' or 'no', you wouldn't be truthful. Just out of curiosity, if you define truthfulness only in using the words 'yes' or 'no', does that mean that if you don't use those two particular words, that you aren't telling the truth?

a lie is giving false statement, not true. a truth is giving correct statements or facts.

hi vany grrrrrrr had a nice fat response all thought out so neatley and it went bye by. so again. A lie is when you know the real truth but that is not what you tell the other person. As in "did you break that vase dear?" " No mom I have no idea how it came to be on the floor?" when you knenw damned well you bumped it, it fell on the floor, and smashed into a zillion pieces.So if the child had been truthful she would have said, "yes mom I am so sorry. I was hurrying, and my sweater caught on the table and I bumped the vase. I could not grab it in time and it fell on the floor".And sometimes I tell myself its okay to put off a doctor's 'appointment when I know I have a problem and its not going away, so I am in a sense lying to myself. I have a skin problem thats not going away and I have to see my doctor so why am I hesitating? I really dont know. lol lol.fear offinding out what it is?

I for one cannot define this for you, Vannie. Maybe we should wait for biswa. I am sure he will explain this, so we can understand it. I don't think you are lying when you say yes or no. I think lying is more like something made up, or you did something wrong and won't admit it. This is freaking hard to explain, you know. TATA.

many people have given good answers here...but still I want to say few lines here...about true and lie Truth is not subjective and it can be verified. A lie covers itself constantly in the shadows waiting to be discovered for what it is. Lie will be, sooner if not later, caught out...and a lie is a statement made with intent to deceive. [b]God offers to every mind its choice between truth and Lie.Take which please you but remember - Lie never please you [/b] - CRAZY

Lie is the concealment of truth, while truth is the revelation of lie...

My simplest definition for a Lie is where you state something as a fact when You know it is not so..Truth is where you speak what is known to be true,or accepted as fact...but what happens when someone can prove that truth to be wrong? I remember reading a textbook experiment in school (Science Class/Biology) during my early teens that the ability to roll your tongue was genetic..some people could do this,and some could not..it had no known purpose,it was simply a curiosity on the pile of things humans can and can't do with our bodies..then more recently,I read another article that said the genetic grounds for this ability had been thrown out in between,as it was possible to LEARN to roll your tongue,so it could no longer be considered a genetic Marker..not a crushing disappointment,but be prepared to have a truth questioned..

You are making my head hurt today. :D A lie is saying something that you know to be untrue. If you ignore a problem, you are not necessarily lying to yourself. Some problems do go away on their own. Most don't, though.

Lies are sweet, lies are beautiful, lies are convincing, But only to the other person. You would know when you are lying. You can't lie to yourself Vandana, at some corner, deep in your heart, you know whats hiding. We just can't face it directly, at times.

Hi, As a matter of fact there are other kinds of speeches. They always sound indifferent and they don't fall under either category. They are not lies as they avoid any factual data or assertion. Some other are opinionated so they can't be true for any other persons. Assertive sentences that are totally based on very definite set of information can fall under the category of truth or lie. Like you said, there are ways to play with words even without directly telling either the truth or a lie. When you are ignoring a problem you are not actually lying to yourself. Instead you are identifying the problem as a lie. You are putting a certain label on it, so that in future you can give it only the necessary importance that it deserves. Deception is art of every war. Thanks. God bless you

Truth according to me cannot be defined in just yes or no. Same with a lie. There exists a very minor difference between the two and quite often both are very close. I think it is just our belief and the terminology. A lie can be a truth unless it is found out to be false and same with truth, something that is yet to be proven as a lie. Ignorance is many a times better. Haven't you heard - "Ignorance is Bliss". But yes, being ignorant all the times in almost everything leads you to nowhere - many a times it lands you up in trouble land!

this is a very tripicle topic i am cannnot difine this matter because its so difficult. thanks your view..

for me telling the truth is the best policy(haha), really truth meaning your telling what is true, what is good, while a lie can be a white lie (has a goodv effect) while a black lie is hiding the truth (it is the evil one)..

lie is telling the otherwise of what you did and truth is saying all without revising or omission.

I don't think being diplomatic means you are lying. If you don't have an opinion one way or another, then being agreeable, and seeming to agree with a person isn't an outright lie - but you have to be careful to not lie by "omission."

Hi vandana, I tell lie. This is the truh. But I don't tell lie that harm anybody.If I use the word 'may be' that is neither "Yes" nor "No".

Both a lie and the truth can be told using so many different words. A lie doesn't always mean no and the truth doesn't always mean yes. people manipulate language to suit their purposes and needs. If everyone would just be honest with each other about everything there would be no need to worry about a lie and the truth.

Hi dear, As may of us know, all these truth and lies are the creations of human beings only. We in general, made certain rules and regulations, laws, decisions, verdicts, conditions, dos and not to dos etc for the convenience of a social better living. Many of them are in 'practical' as we all are the part of a society and for a better social life such things are necessary. There are likes and dislikes around. If you or me are only around what is the use of the same. But in a group around, such things are ruled up and become a necessity. We made lie and truth. Some truth may become not good for me as well as your lies are good for you and may not good for me also. These all are based on certain assumptions and practice only. There are certain universal truths accepted worldwide and the other way also. It is basically observed that the accepted truth and lies are acceptable for all by our custom and nothing else. If I slap a person near by with no reason, all will say it is wrong. It is an accepted universal fact and treated as not good. So, many things in such category are become universal and become a common character. So things are happening around us with a cause and consequences. Regards, Thank-s