If everything that concerned the truth or a lie was simple and understandable, the people would not have the expression “better than the bitter truth than the sweet lie”.
Nevertheless, this statement is in almost all languages of the world. Let’s figure out what is better and whether there is really the best of these two evils.
Better means "more profitable"
Alas, most often, when people talk about choice, the advice is aimed solely at achieving their own benefits. Agree, it’s ridiculous to somehow follow the advice that will leave you "fools." The saying "better is the bitter truth than a sweet lie." I am referring here not to the moral side of the issue, but to my own interests. Indeed, it is obviously understandable - having told the truth, you will remain “clean”, not dirtying yourself with the dirt of lies. So what if someone such a truth can cause pain and suffering? “I'm clean!” The ego will say. “Yes, it’s unpleasant, but it was true!” It turns out that if you move away from the principle known since childhood, nothing bad will happen? Moreover, a lie can be saving, while the truth can harm and destroy? We'll figure out!
Fools and children always tell the truth
Children do not tend to lie. The kids are so truthful and natural in their innocence that they shamelessly poke a finger at strangers, revealing space with "unpleasant" questions: "Mom, why is my uncle so fat?", "Why is this aunt dressed like a parrot?".
It is not difficult to guess who is the first to teach the child to lie - of course, the parents. It can be “Shhhh!”, Or maybe a gift in the form of a slap. And the baby understands that the truth, as it is, can be very unpleasant and even painful. Growing up, the child notices more and more lies around him and joins himself in this mutually beneficial game. After all, the world is not a holiday, I don’t want to go to school, I don’t want to do homework, I don’t want my parents scolded for a bad grade. We ask ourselves: “Which is better - the bitter truth than the sweet lie?” in early childhood. However, the question of truth and honesty only worsens with age.
True one
You may have heard the expression: "Truth - it is one." This is a very often used saying when it comes to morality, good and evil, things “right” and “wrong”. Meanwhile, it’s worth digging deeper, and it turns out that it’s not so simple.
For one person, evil is abstract, for another - specifically. Someone believes in justice, and someone believes that everything is bought and everyone in the world is for himself. Imagine that there is a war between two nations. Ask a representative of one nation - who is right in this war? Of course, he will answer that his side is right, but the opponents are both evil and treacherous. But his opponent will stand his ground, claiming that the truth is on their side. If such a thought experiment does not seem convincing to you, then conduct your own, real one.
Interview a few people (your parents, friends). Ask them the following questions: “What is the truth?”, “What does it mean to act honestly?”, “What is the truth?”. You will see that each will give his own answer related to his own life experience and baggage of experiences. Finally, ask: “Which is better, bitter truth or sweet lie?”, And again you will hear different answers. Everything is simple - a person judges exclusively from his past. Someone faced a lie, suffered from it and now does not accept. And someone became a victim of truth, naked and merciless, and now prefers to close his eyes to the facts, to hear lies, but without pain. It turns out that the question is: “Which is better, bitter truth or sweet lie?” doomed to remain unrequited?
Everyone has their own truth
Sometimes it’s not easy to come to the truth. As the saying goes: “How many people, so many opinions,” which means that everyone has their own truth. Meanwhile, deep down everyone knows the correct answer to the question. And this, not looking at all the accumulated experience, at the injuries of the past and the wounds of the present. Everyone can deny something out loud, disagree with something in the mind, but deep down we all know the only true answer.
It doesn’t matter what kind of God you believe in and what religion you profess. You can be a convinced atheist and deny the existence of the Almighty. And your life position can be any. But you must admit: in any situation, you always feel that it would be the right decision. Whatever happens, at any moment in time you can clearly say what to do would be necessary. But we act most often as it would be more profitable to us or as circumstances dictate.
What is it for? To the fact that everyone always knows which is better. How to do the right thing to be good for everyone. Moreover, the inner voice sometimes puts the interests of others above their own.
To answer the inner voice
Each time we encounter a situation called “better is the bitter truth than the sweet lie”, we also hear an inner voice. They told us many times that the truth is always better.
We heard that the bitter truth is better than a sweet lie, and sometimes blindly followed this rule. And honestly, has this always led to good results? Was a person always happy to hear the truth, or would it be better if he had managed a lie? It turns out that in half the case you can lie - and it will be for the good.
Do not follow stereotypes
Forget about the so-called rules if you want to live happily ever after on this planet! Who told us that the better is the bitter truth than the sweet lie? Parents who themselves also taught us to lie. Teachers who are not role models.
Other people who tend to be mistaken. All the rules were invented by people, and what was invented by them, in almost half of cases, does not work. Don't ask yourself: “Better is the bitter truth than the sweet lie - is that so?” Remember your life situations when you followed this rule. Did this lead to a good result? Has the truth hurt you and people? Truth does not exist! There are a million circumstances and situations, and there are many ways out of them.
The only truth is not to harm yourself and others. If harm is the so-called "truth", then sometimes a sweet lie is better than a bitter truth.
When can I lie?
You yourself know the answer to the question of the ethics of lies. You can lie when the truth can destroy and hurt. It is not about blissful ignorance. But the fact is that sometimes truth can completely turn the tide of human life, make it worse. A person may be so unprepared for the truth that she can literally kill him. In this case, the dilemmas “better the bitter truth than the sweet lie” should not even arise.
Focus on your inner voice
Even being raised in certain traditions, we still always know the best option for our behavior or reaction. Man is not a machine, not a robot, and not an animal.
Yes, sometimes we are guided by instincts, sometimes upbringing, but nothing can drown out the voice of the soul and heart. People who live in harmony with their inner instincts are most calm - after all, they always act “in truth”. Of course, not all actions in this case will be determined by their own benefit, and, nevertheless, they will be the best choice.
Forget about stereotypes. Don’t ask yourself a question about choosing something - these are mental traps created by people for fun. Live according to what your heart tells you. This is the best compass in life's ups and downs.