The idea of "little white lies" is one that is often debated.  Some believe that we should always be honest and always tell the truth.  Others think there are circumstances that permit, maybe even require lying.  I fall into the second group.  Where I may differ from many people these days is what I consider an acceptable white lie.
    Some think that telling white lies to protect themselves is acceptable.  I don't.  The situations where I thing lying is acceptable is when it could hurt someones feelings or even harm them physically to tell the truth.  Some examples of what I mean:

• If your helping a friend getting ready for a party and she wants your opinion of a dress she may wear, but hasn't really decided, this is a time to be honest, but tactful.  On the other hand, if you run into the friend when your already at the party you don't tell her "that outfit makes you look like a bag lady" even it it's true, it's too late to change, so just keep your opinion to yourself.
• If your helping another employee assigned to prepare some important documents such as a proposal, you don't tell him it sucks,  you find some parts of it to compliment, than tactfully suggest that some changes in wording could improve other areas.
• If your visiting a sick friend or relative in the hospital, you don't tell them they look like hell.  That is not going to help them recover.  A little white lie is called for.
• Your at a class reunion and getting reacquainted with people you haven't seen for ten, fifteen or even twenty years.  You are wondering why they look so old (they are thinking the same when they look at you).  You still say "you haven't changed a bit!" even though they have.
• A friend has taken up a new hobby; painting, ceramics, writing poetry, etc.  There early efforts are likely to be amateurish because that is what they are at that time, but they should be encouraged to continue so they get better with practice and that means little white lies are in order.

In short, brutal honesty is for brutal people; polite and kind people sometimes say things that are not exactly true, but are the polite and gentle thing to say, and it is totally proper to do so.