Christian replied that he could not say "yes" when he ought to say "no."
But why, she rejoined, could he not when he would make so many people happy?
Oh, did his sister then wish him to lie?
Why should he not under the circumstances?
He would despise himself and not wish to live any longer.
Yes, but if he made his father and mother and brother and sister happy? Did not Christian want them to be happy?
Yes he did, but lying was another matter.
All men did that a little, and Christian should not make himself better than others.
All men liars! Christian had never believed that, and he himself had never lied.
That was because he had never needed to lie.