Licensed 2 Lie

In this context Mahabharat give an interesting twist by recommending us to remain practical.

na narma yukta.n vachanaM hinasti 
na strIShu rAjanna vivAha kAle . 
prANAtyaye sarvadhanApahAre 
pa~nchAnR^itAnyAhurapAtakAni ..MB. aadiparva 78. 16..

Meaning - It is OK to lie at following five occasions.  During joking,with women,
at the time of marriage, when life is at stake or when all your possession could
be lost.

Similar thoughts get echoed in ManusmR^Iti as well -

kaaminiiShu vivaaheShu gavaa.m bhakxe tathendhane |
braahmaNaabhyupapattau ca shapathe naasti paatakam || manusmR^iti 8.12 ||

Meaning - It is OK to lie to women (may be this was advised to men who had more
than one wife to sat say to one or each one them that he loves her the most or
she is the most favorite ... etc.;  in order to keep peace and harmony in the
family unit), at the time of marriage (may be this could be like, " I will not
marry anybody else".  ... etc   ),While trying to get feed for the cow, Fuel for
cooking or while trying to protect Brahmans.  During the occasions lies do not
get classified as "paataka".

So dharmashaastra does give a "license to lie" on specific occasions.