30 Stories From People About The Smallest Lies They've Told Which Had The Biggest Consequences
There is nothing you can preach to stop folks from lying because lying is inherently part of human nature.
Lying is a complex behavior that many struggle to understand—its motivations, methods, and timing. According to Dr. Angela Duckworth, a renowned character researcher, "Lying can serve various purposes, from self-defense to social manipulation, and even as a form of creativity." This notion is particularly evident in children, where small lies can foster imaginative play. However, these seemingly harmless deceptions can escalate unexpectedly, leading to unforeseen consequences. As noted by Dr. Dan Gilbert, a happiness researcher, "The impact of a lie can ripple through relationships and personal well-being, often in ways we cannot predict." Recently, individuals have shared their experiences of minor lies that spiraled into significant issues, prompting discussions on platforms like Reddit. A viral thread on the site highlighted over 10,600 upvotes and 6,700 responses, showcasing the profound effects of these small untruths. Explore our curated list of the smallest lies with the biggest consequences below.
1. I, my girlfriend, and the store manager
Chahles88
2. Bullying is never the solution
Alk3PrivateEye, Heidi
3. What a story!
BriceWithRice, GRVO TV
4. And then came the fire drill
ComptonUnicorn, Know Your Meme
5. I took a number of business courses as an undergrad
quilles, Ryo Chijiiwa
6. How my friend and I became best friends
leftoverrice54, Fred Jala
7. All I wanted was a free pen
GreenGlassDrgn
8. Camp counselor for a group of kindergarteners
puckislife_24, darkday
9. What I always felt guilty about
Scrappy_Larue, Studio Sarah Lou
10. If only I had given her a quarter
_zero_, amboo who?
11. Doing something to avoid daily chores
Yoinkie2013
12. I'm leaving the room for two minutes
StrikeAnywherePanda
13. That is a weird thing to lie about
mrkushie
14. I faked my cries and then...
anon
15. When I was still a boy...
mokti
16. We found a robin's nest with four eggs
Alocasia_Fruit
17. The Easter Bunny comes through the drain...
VelvetTush, Ranjan Gupta
18. Learning how to play the keyboard
melapot8
19. The family made me change my name
Aicire
20. How I met my wife...
x4u
21. Back when I was in elementary school
gameboythrowaway28, Tam Tam
22. This lie caused a really bad scene
makinwar_uk
23. All three of us were dumb and immature
bean220, Luis Penados
24. Getting grounded for a 'little lie'
EricSequeira
25. He screamed blue murder
girraween
26. My son thinks I'm God
BasedRocker, Alec Wilson
27. My step-grandpa always thought I was my brother
ioncehads*xinapool
28. Changing a few details in my stories
BlatantConservative
29. I'm skeptical at this point
anon
30. She apologized in tears
2d4b5l69, ssilberman
There is nothing you can preach to stop folks from lying because lying is inherently part of human nature. However, it isn’t always appropriate to lie because, irrespective of how small or 'white' it seems, it might lead to deleterious consequences afterward.
These lies can actually conceal a minor situation. However, they eventually spiral into something larger, and we find ourselves caught in unpleasant situations.
