Let's face it—we've all been in situations where we needed a polite way out of doing something we'd rather avoid.

While honesty is typically the best policy, there are times when a harmless white lie can avoid causing unnecessary harm, spare feelings, and maintain positive rapport.

The famous 18th-century Scottish philosopher David Hume agreed. Telling little white lies, he wrote in a letter dated March 27, 1773, is acceptable when done out of empathy for others.1

Hume was expressing a common sentiment of the day. Not only were white lies widely tolerated in 18th-century Great Britain, they were routinely encouraged under certain circumstances.2

Proponents of innocent capping include other luminaries, too. Mark Twain offers an insightful illustration in his short story “Was It Heaven or Hell?,” where an unconventional Christian medical doctor asks: "Haven’t you got sense enough to discriminate between lies? Don’t you know the difference between a lie that helps and a lie that hurts?"

Many of us feel the same way. How often haven't you lied to a child or vulnerable individual to avoid harming or hurting them?

But do you know how to excuse yourself from an undesirable undertaking without sounding dismissive or causing offense? If not, you might want to try one of these innocuous fibs.

The time constraint excuse involves citing a scheduling conflict or prior commitment as a reason for not honoring a request or making good on a promise.

Say your neighbor invites you to attend their weekend barbecue, but you'd rather spend........

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