If it is alright to adapt one's testimony to one's needs, one's word is not worth a damn. If one's word is not worth a damn, then one is a parasite upon society, bringing mistrust and presumably manipulating any situation to one's own advantage, without regard for others and their claims. Thus, one is contemptible.
The point is that the bar to lying has to be high, so that the default position is truth- telling, and the exceptions are narrow. Society has agreed to exempt "little white lies", such as avoiding unnecessary offense or contriving a joke or surprise, and it will consider others mitigated, if not excused, such as lying to cover some indiscretions, and still others meritorious, such as lying to a killer to save someone's life, but someone who does not keep the bar pretty high is just a liar, which is something no honorable person wants to be. Taking an solemn oath in the court room to tell the truth without reservation makes it even more a matter of simple integrity not to lie or obfuscate, to the best of one's ability. Yes, sometimes telling the truth might be like walking against a strong wind, and there might be "trimming", even if out and out lying is avoided, but at least one pushed forward in the right direction........ |
