Guiding Light: Why Does Someone Lie To A Loved One?

 It is a wonder. Why would someone tell a lie to their close ones, to their beloved?

Lovers often ask this question. Love cannot stand untruth, and relationships tend to break when untruth enters. Understanding this paradox of love and truth reveals the answer.

People often lie just to preserve their love. The fear that truth might damage the relationship gives rise to lies between husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, parents and children, and among other close relations.

In love, one often feels weak, but truth brings strength. Then why do people choose love over truth and weakness over strength?

Love is what we are reluctant to sacrifice, so people are willing to let go of truth to hold on to love, even though love can take the lustre out of truth. At times, truth may make love bitter, while in love, even lies can appear sweet. Like when Krishna lies to his mother, Yashoda.

Truth carries judgement, but true love is beyond judgement. True love can make you feel weak, and yet, it is the greatest strength.

Ultimately, truth that does not nourish love makes no sense. And love that cannot withstand truth is not true love. If one is assured that their love is so strong that the truth can neither break it nor cause bitterness, then truth prevails and love continues to shine.

Love is so enormous. For ages, people have tried to express it, and finally, they have felt they cannot. Even the great sage Narada said, "Anirvachaniyam prema swarupam", meaning the nature of true love is beyond expression.

Love with wisdom is bliss. Love without knowledge is pain.

Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025, 10:03 AM IST