It was pretty clearly a lie of omission when I didn’t correct the teacher, so eight-year-old me felt guilty for that.
Why didn’t I? Partly, because I couldn’t muster the courage, and partly because she’d gone on in the next sentence to use my “hard work” as an example for the class and I didn’t want to undermine the lesson.
Now, adult me can look back and say, “Kid, there was no need to feel any guilt; what you did was fine given the situation and pressures.” But that precocious third-grader knew Lying Was Wrong.
I don’t understand, why guilt?
It’s about the difference between honor and reputation.
Lois Bujold, “A Civil Campaign”
It was pretty clearly a lie of omission when I didn’t correct the teacher, so eight-year-old me felt guilty for that.
Why didn’t I? Partly, because I couldn’t muster the courage, and partly because she’d gone on in the next sentence to use my “hard work” as an example for the class and I didn’t want to undermine the lesson.
Now, adult me can look back and say, “Kid, there was no need to feel any guilt; what you did was fine given the situation and pressures.” But that precocious third-grader knew Lying Was Wrong.