Honesty is an important characteristic to possess in all aspects of life. You need to be honest in order to have quality relationships, get ahead at work and to not get kicked out of school for plagiarism. When given the option, telling the truth is usually the best way to go. Usually. Here are just a few of the most innocent lies you can tell, because being honest is hard sometimes.

1. "This is delicious."

Whether you're trying to appease your own mother or someone else's, you will choke down that culinary experiment and smile through the pain. There is no harm done with this lie unless, of course, they keep making it for you because they think you genuinely enjoy it.

2. "Is that a spray tan? It looks so natural."

It will fade in a few days. Just avoid eye contact and any reference to Doritos until then.

3. "It's fine."

Does anybody else get extremely, like red-faced, can-feel-it-in-your-stomach angry over tiny inconveniences like someone knocking your elbow off of the arm rest in the movie theater or someone cutting you off in line for the bathroom even though you don't really have to go that badly?! Just me? Well, in the off case that this someone actually apologizes for inconveniencing me so horribly, I will always paste on a smile and pretend like I wasn't just picturing myself punching them square in the face while I calmly say "oh, it's fine."

4. "Sorry, that was my last piece of gum."

It is not my responsibility to ensure fresh breath of everyone in my vicinity every time I break out my pack. Getcha own.

5. "I'm not single, I'm just keeping my options open."

This one is pretty much reserved for parents and other family members who are getting more and more worried every day that you don't have a ring on your finger. Your friends know the truth that "keeping your options open" really means having a handful of crushes that you Snapchat on the weekends but otherwise never speak a word to.

6. "Sorry, I'm kind of talking to someone right now."

When that creepy dude from across the hall starts coming on a little strong, this lie will (hopefully) get him to back down. It's also a little more sensitive to say that you're taken than coming out and saying "you are creepy and smell like milk, I would most definitely not like to go to mini golfing with you."

7. "Wow, I really like your hair cut/color."

This poor soul just went out and spent $50 minimum to change their look and are already silently panicking about the outcome. They don't need you to add to their anxiety when there's nothing that can be done, now. Unless it's truly atrocious, and even then you might be safer with just taking matters into your own hands and shaving their head while they sleep.

8. "Yes, I read the chapter."

This is a 100 percent innocent lie. No one's feelings will be hurt by this lie, no one will die... Your grade might suffer a bit in the off chance of a reading quiz, but even then, your street smarts will kick in and you'll figure it out.

9. "This is just what I wanted!"

Christmas. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Any occasion that calls for an exchanging of gifts is probably when most of the liars start to come out. Oh, wow! A bag of peanuts and a Claire's gift card?! How did you know?!

10. "No grandma, that's not a real tattoo."

"They make temporary tattoos so life like these days. I know! It's crazy!" No need to give the poor woman a heart attack.

11. "I floss every day."

I don't know why we tell this lie. It's not believable. I mean, the dentist has the proof of your lie right in front of them. He just found a popcorn kernel from 2001 in the same mouth that you just used to blatantly lie to his face. And yet we expect him to believe our favorite pass time is running a piece of string between our teeth? Try again.

12. "My class was canceled."

Yes, I skip class about three times a week. No, I'm not proud of it and yes, I do lie about it often. It's easier to tell someone that I'm not in class because the professor canceled it than explaining that I just wasn't feeling attending today.

13. "I was at this party. No, I wasn't drinking."

I was probably drinking.

14. "I'm 21."

Well, maybe not all little lies are completely innocent.