In a recent television appearance, veteran broadcaster Eamonn Holmes stirred up a lively debate by defending the use of small, seemingly harmless lies in everyday life. Holmes challenged the notion that honesty should always be absolute, arguing that minor untruths can help smooth over social interactions and spare feelings.
On the show, Holmes recounted how, in social situations, brutal honesty might not always be the best policy. “If you meet a friend who looks as if she’s been dragged through a hedge backward, is it going to make her feel better if you tell the truth about her appearance? Of course not,” he remarked. The broadcaster suggested that these little white lies can actually be beneficial, preventing a sour note from disrupting what might otherwise be an enjoyable evening—and potentially saving relationships from unnecessary strain, according to the Express.
Holmes also addressed the common perception that lying inherently erodes trust, citing his own experiences as evidence to the contrary. “Does my bum look big in this? No of course it doesn’t,” he said, humorously adding that he has occasionally embellished the truth about himself. His candid admission indicates that, for him, the occasional fib isn’t a betrayal of trust but rather a tool to maintain social harmony.
The discussion took a practical turn when Holmes illustrated how white lies might be employed during difficult personal times. He explained that if a friend’s boyfriend has just dumped her, offering harsh truths about her appearance or behavior would be counterproductive. “If your friend’s boyfriend has just dumped her, don’t tell her it’s because she has the personality of a bowl of cereal and that her two-stone weight gain didn’t help: lay all the blame on him and then encourage her to take up new activities, preferably ones needing a bit of physical exercise,” he advised. This approach, he implied, not only cushions the blow but also helps shift focus away from self-criticism during vulnerable moments.
Holmes didn’t stop there; he also touched on the delicate matter of personal aspirations. When a friend is considering a major career change—say, leaving her job to pursue a singing career despite having “a voice like a foghorn”—he recommended finding gentle ways to dissuade her without crushing her enthusiasm.
Summing up his views on communication, Holmes contrasted his supportive approach with a more rigid, unfiltered honesty. “I speak as I find,” is one of the most horrible sentiments in the English language. If we all did that no one would get out of bed in the morning. “I speak to make life a little better for some people,” is a far better way of putting it. Eamonn might not be perfect, but on this one, he’s right.
