Why do people lie when they know the truth will come out?

It becomes a habit. Politicians don't even have a problem with it. Some people even lie when the truth would be to their advantage. You are right, people can usually tell when they hear a lie.

You can always detect when a politician is telling a lie. It happens whenever their lips move.

that's a puzzling question. it is not stable to lie, despite if that's surely not stable to wreck someones emotions through being too blunt. as quickly as I lie I continually basically toss stuff out of a hat that suits the region. then I basically follow the region collectively as taking word of the temper of the guy or people. each and every from time to time its puzzling to be certain the temper or the place the region could bypass next. if so I tell the fact, yet purely after softening up and sharpening the genuine tale. remember although: ALL lies get found out quicker or later. wish this enables.

Isn't it crazy? And they lie whether it makes any difference or not. Two examples are politicians, John Edwards and Paul Ryan. Edwards lied to the public's very face when he claimed that he did not father a child with the Hunter woman, something that could be easily verified through DNA testing. He lied to his wife, too, but that's another story. The Paul Ryan "little white lie" was about his marathon race history, when he told a local radio host he had finished a marathon in a certain time (which I guess was a great finish, but not being familiar with marathons, I don't know), but it turned out to be easily verifiable that he was lying about that and his actual time was one hour longer. As far as a lie goes, it seems pretty tame. But why tell a lie about such a thing, unless it's just easier to embellish one's accomplishments?

The problem is that both lies sprang so easily to these guys' lips and were simply told as a matter of course. We all lie, every one of us. We expect more from our elected officials.

In this case, I would say he's probably a pathological. I think pathos sometimes don't even realize they are lying b/c they do it so much it becomes natural.

In general, though, I'd say most people--regular people like us--don't think the truth ever WILL come out. I mean, some things--maybe most--won't.

We'd be surprised at how may 'truths' are actually lies. Just look at the history books in schools.

You do wonder. Recently I saw about a man who'd been pretending to be a war veteran, wore all the medals, marched in the parades, belonged to various veterans clubs and was the president of one. Finally someone blew the whistle on him - and you did wonder ! The whistle blower had known him all his life, and knew that he'd never served in any military - surely the guy must have known that many people would know he'd never been a veteran.

I guess they get caught up in their own stories, and start to believe it themselves. Sad, isn't it. And so humiliating for them when the truth comes out.

I just saw that too, but didn't read it. Sometimes people expound on the truth. Some people make up a lie and then keep telling it until they believe it themselves. It could be that is what he did, not realizing how much he got caught up in that lie. That's why it's better to stick to the truth.

Some are , ok most of us are emotionally damaged to some extent. Some to the point that they have to lie to build themselves up as they don't know any other way to feel half way good about themselves. And lieing becomes a habit. Ppl who have bad habits do those things even when they know they'll be caught. Stealing, eating to feel better, talking bad about others, ect.

I'll guess it's a character flaw. Youthful liars are to be overlooked but as one gets more mature the lie diminishes ones validity. I knew a young woman that even in an ordinary conversation, she could not be believed at all. My kids learned this as young children and we accepted her with knowing to not believe her but be kind. I also saw the man holding a baby in his audition. Poor child had to be part of his 15 minutes of fame. He brought dishonor on his fellow vets though. Hope he gets help. You can't believe anything anymore. It is getting much worse with instant information.

Some people think a lie is as good as the truth if they can get others to believe it. lol

Yeah, it is strange. I have known several people who lied constantly, and they didn't even seem to know they were lying. Some kind of mental/emotional defect, I guess.