What happen to honesty being the best policy?

Question

when is it best not to be forcoming?

Answer 1

I don't know! A lot of people on here aren't honest.I've always been honest sometimes to honest. ♥

Answer 2

Cause honesty can hurt someones feelings sometimes!  

Answer 3

when you are faced with a loaded gun..

Answer 4

it still is unless the truth you tell will hurt others or yourself to tell it. Honesty is the best policy but openness can bite you in the behind.

Answer 5

Well, some people use "honesty" as a weapon to hurt other people's feelings.  For example, they might say, "I really don't like you and I think you are a fat pig," and justify what they say by claiming they are just "being honest" when in fact they are just being cruel.  

So I would say that it is best not to be forthcoming when it is going to hurt someones feelings to no good purpose, or when you are just venting your anger or irritation with someone.  I am not saying that one should just clam up and never express oneself.  Just try to do so in a way you would want someone to talk to you if the situation was reversed.  

I also feel it is best to keep one's mouth shut when a revelation won't help a situation and can only hurt.  For example, I have a relative who had some news that he decided not to share with his 90+ year old grandfather, who would have been devastated by the news and was very ill besides.  His feeling was there was no reason to be honest and profoundly rattle the cage of an old man who probably didn't have very long to live.  In fact to do so would have been honest but it also would have been cruel.

This doesn't mean one has to lie either.  One can simply not say anything in cases where the unvarnished truth would be inappropriate.