從小老師就教育我們要誠(chéng)實(shí)，長(zhǎng)大了才發(fā)現(xiàn)世界上沒(méi)有人不說(shuō)謊，只是撒謊的程度輕重不一。
    Johnny tells everybody he got an A for every subject last term. I'm afraid he's telling a fib - I happen to know he got at least one B, but he's too embarrassed to admit it.
    Johnny告訴大家自己上學(xué)期門門功課都得了A，恐怕他撒了個(gè)小謊，我碰巧知道他至少有一個(gè)B。他只是不好意思承認(rèn)。
    Johnny雖然得了一個(gè)B，但是他還可以算是個(gè)優(yōu)秀生。他撒謊也許是因?yàn)閯e人對(duì)他期望過(guò)高，認(rèn)為他樣樣都該得A，再說(shuō)他的謊話也不會(huì)損害他人。這樣看來(lái)fib是無(wú)關(guān)緊要的小謊。
    Fib是無(wú)傷大雅的小謊，有一種fib的動(dòng)機(jī)甚至更容易被理解，是出于禮貌或者為了不傷害他人的感情。這種清白無(wú)辜的謊言就稱為 white lie。 White lie是動(dòng)機(jī)善良的謊話。換句話說(shuō)，雖然沒(méi)說(shuō)實(shí)話，但是至少有理由這樣做。
    I told Sally a white lie when she asked me how I liked her new party dress. I didn't like the color or the design but when I saw how happy she was with it, I told her it looked great.
    當(dāng)Sally問(wèn)我喜不喜歡她的新宴會(huì)服的時(shí)候，我對(duì)Sally撒了個(gè)無(wú)辜的謊言，其實(shí)我并不喜歡那件衣服的顏色和設(shè)計(jì)，但我看到Sally對(duì)那衣服的滿意勁兒，我就告訴Sally那衣服真漂亮。