There are four types of lies characterized by color: gray, black, red, and white. Gray lies partly help oneself and others, varying in the balance of help vs. harm. Black lies are selfish with others gaining nothing and the sole purpose being to help oneself. The worst black lies harm others greatly while helping oneself little. Red lies are meant to harm others through spite and revenge, even at the expense of harming oneself.

2. There are four types of lie that can be
characterized by naming them with four colors
, , and

4. The forces of evolution naturally push us towards self-
preservation, especially when we feel threatened. When basic
needs seem at risk we hence become inclined to lie in order to
protect ourselves.
We also lie to get less basic needs, for example to fulfil our
personal or received goals. Lying always causes values conflict
and selfish lies cause even greater dissonance. This hence tends
to reduce self as a primary reason for lying (or at least in terms of
personal justification).

5. What we say often has an effect on others, especially when we
are directly communicating with them. Lies may help or harm
others and the thought of this impacts how or whether we lie.
The decision to lie to others is particularly affected by social
values which at least say we should do no harm. As a result,
decisions to lie can be a complex balance of who is affected
and by how much.

8. Most of the lies we tell are gray lies. They are partly to help
others and partly to help ourselves. They may vary in the
shade of gray, depending on the balance of help and harm.
Gray lies are, almost by definition, hard to clarify. For
example you can lie to help a friend out of trouble but then
gain the reciprocal benefit of them lying for you while those
they have harmed in some way lose out.
Gray lie

9. Black lies are about simple and callous selfishness. We tell
black lies when others gain nothing and the sole purpose is
either to get ourselves out of trouble (reducing harm against
ourselves) or to gain something we desire (increasing benefits
for ourselves).
The worst black lies are very harmful for others. Perhaps the
very worst gain us a little yet harm others a great deal.
Black lie

10. Red lies are about spite and revenge. They are driven by the
motive to harm others even at the expense of harming
oneself. They may even be carved in blood.
When we are angry at others, perhaps because of a long feud
or where we feel they have wronged us in some way, we feel
a sense of betrayal and so seek retributive justice, which we
may dispense without thought of consequence.
Red lie