Fear of consequences drives many lies from "summary" of Lying by Sam Harris
The fear of consequences drives many lies. We lie to avoid the repercussions of telling the truth. We fear that the truth will harm us in some way, either by causing us to lose something we value or by leading to some form of punishment. This fear can be powerful enough to override our moral compass and compel us to deceive others. When we lie out of fear, we are not thinking about the long-term consequences of our actions. We are focused on the immediate threat and how to avoid it. This short-sightedness can lead us to make decisions that we later regret, as we realize the damage that our lies have caused. The fear of consequences can also lead us to lie to ourselves. We convince ourselves that the lie is necessary in order to protect ourselves or others from harm. We justify our dishonesty as a means of self-preservation, even though deep down we know that we are compromising our integrity. In some cases, the fear of consequences can be so intense that it becomes a vicious cycle. We lie to avoid punishment, but the lie only serves to create more fear and anxiety, leading us to tell even more lies in an attempt to cover up the original deception. This cycle can spiral out of control, causing us to become trapped in a web of deceit.- The fear of consequences drives many lies because it taps into our most primal instincts for self-preservation. We are willing to sacrifice our honesty and integrity in order to protect ourselves from harm, even if that harm is only perceived. By understanding the power of this fear, we can begin to break free from its grip and choose honesty and integrity instead.
