Answer the questioner, not the question

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Question: In daily routine life, sometimes we say we should speak the truth, and truth only, and avoid speaking lies. But once you are speaking the Truth, you are more relaxed and you don’t have to think every time what the lie was. So, should we speak the truth all the time?

Acharya Prashant (AP): No, first of all, see that what you are calling truth, is just facts. You are asking whether you should be stating facts to someone all the time.

Listener (L): If the people usually lie all the time…

AP: When somebody asks you, he or she expects facts, right? If the fellow is really looking for the facts and you do not give facts to him, then it is a disservice. But, there are times when both of you are just playing roles, the fellow is asking you something generally, but not at all expecting a sincere answer. Now, if you are give a sincere answer, you are destroying the role play.

There are times when the other fellow really wants the facts, then it is your duty to provide the fact. And then, there are times, when all the other fellow wants is some answer. And now if you are intent upon giving the facts, you are spoiling the occasion.