Lying

This past month I was in a scholarship interview and I was asked if it is ever okay to lie. Out of all the questions I have been asked over the past few weeks, this one stands out the most. Is it ever okay to lie? Society as a whole would have to say yes based on their actions. Everyone has told a lie at some point in their life and they would be lying if they said they hadn't. It may not be right to lie to someone, but I think it may be beneficial to that person and to yourself if you do avoid the truth. No one wants to hear that they look fat in a dress or that they have gotten a tad overweight. There are certain people that can tell them that information kindly, but it is more than likely that you aren't going to be that person. Last year, I was given the opportunity to watch "The Invention of Lying" for English, a movie where everyone told the truth until one day a man managed to tell a lie. Before this lie it seemed that society was chaotic and it's a miracle they functioned because wouldn't it be awful if you were in a relationship with someone and they constantly told you what they thought of you? I don't understand how anyone was even able to reproduce to bring more truth-telling people into the world. Lying is almost a necessity for survival. To get anywhere in life you have to tell a couple of lies here and there.