White lies, polite lies [ Reading & Writing / Communication ]
… frequently demand s some such deception, including white lies and discrete omissions . Eighteenth-century authors of advice manuals thus had to walk a fine line between recommending honesty towards oneself and politeness towards others, … both for moral and for intellectual reasons: Eighteenth-century moralists poured scorn on liars. Lord Chesterfield’s Advice to His Son , purporting to spread the principles of politeness, averred that even the most innocuous-seeming lie … Yale University Presses, 2020), vol. 4, p. 38. 5 . Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Chesterfield’s Advice to His Son. On Men and Manners: or, A New System of Education (Edinburgh, 1775), p. 79. 6 . David Hume, An Enquiry …
Conversation | Falsehood | Lies | Politeness
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