【题目】

　　Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Sometimes it is better not to tell the truth. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

　　【范文】

　　23. Sometimes It Is Better Not to Tell the Truth

　　It is my belief that "honesty is the best policy" in most situations. If we lie to others for our own advantage, it is sure to hurt us eventually. Once we become known for telling lies, we will lose the trust of others, and trust, once lost, is difficult to recover. However, I do believe that there are situations in which it is sometimes better not to tell the truth.

　　Truth is a high ideal, but so is compassion. I don't believe that it is right to hurt people unnecessarily, even with something as noble as the truth. In some situations the truth is of no benefit to someone and will only hurt him. For example, if a man breaks up with his girlfriend and she says terrible things about him, there is no point in telling the man. Similarly, if someone buys something and then asks for your opinion, there is no need to tell him that you think he wasted his money. The truth would only have been helpful before the purchase.

　　To sum up, one should think before speaking, even when it means deciding between the truth and a lie. One must balance truth with compassion, especially when it is a matter of personal opinion. The truth should be told as much as possible, but I don't believe that there is any harm in telling a white lie when the situation calls for it.