White lies, polite lies [ Reading & Writing / Communication ]
… that t he task of keeping on the straight path between courtesy and sincerity was particularly difficult for a social hostess : she had to civilize her guests by means of politeness and to entertain them by dint of social grace, and that … lies – which require a particular social skill – may also have offered a form of social empower ment for women. For a hostess or guest to withhold the truth in a conversation that is later recited for a different audience, for instance by … reply’d I gaily, & actually ran out of the Room to cry – his observation went so to my Heart.’ (Thraliana, I, 415) As a hostess, Thrale felt she had to perform in public, whatever her private feelings. The performance of politness thus …
Conversation | Falsehood | Lies | Politeness
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