When I read the original post I tweeted: "What happened to truth and transparency? "  Many of my tweeter colleagues agreed how depressing this advice was.  Thanks for your rebuttal.

This is not about a continuum of what is OK or even "right". We often forget there is a distinction between truth and honesty.  It is not really about lying.    It is about integrity and character. It is about honour. It is about being the change we want to see in the world.

And as you point out, we do make mistakes but we at least know when we do.  "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."

Some wonderful comments from your readers.