Lies Quote by Peggy M. McAloon
““Is it okay to do something wrong if you're doing it to protect someone who deserves to be helped?" "That's an odd question Is there anything you need to tell me?" but I think sometimes you have to tell a white lie,. It's like when Grandma and Grandpa were here for the funeral. They didn't say a word about Grandpa being sick. They tried to protect us because they knew we had enough to deal with. I wondered if you thought they did the right thing by not telling us." Her mother let out a soft sigh. "You're right. We call it a white lie. We do that to protect the ones we love. I used to think it was totally wrong no matter what the reasoning was. Now I think I've changed my mind a bit." "No," Ele said, ””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The White Lie” (fictional dialogue)
Explores moral ambiguity of lying to protect loved ones, questioning absolute ethics.
In simple terms: Sometimes lying protects those we care about.
Key Takeaway
Weigh harm versus benefit before lying.
Themes
ethics
family
truthfulness
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
ethical
narrative
When to use this quote
- family crises
- medical decisions
- parental guidance
- friendship dilemmas
Key Concepts
moral relativism
protective deception
emotional labor
Questions to Reflect On
- Is protecting someone worth compromising honesty?
- What are long‑term effects of protective lies?
A Different Perspective
White lies can erode trust if overused.
![“Mom used to tell me that white people don't understand us, would never understand us, even when they are well-meaning and patient...I thought she was being reductive and unforgiving, but she might have known something I didn't: how do I explain to [my white boyfriend], who feels only love and…” quote by Scaachi Koul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c73/scaachi-koul-20250_white-people_mom-used-to-tell-me-that-white-people-do_1679773.jpg)
