9th Commandment

“POLITE LYING”
Custom lies at the foundation of a large amount of the violation of the commandments, the ninth no less than the others. What “everybody does” is supposed to be justifiable. The custom of the people is responsible for a great deal of what is known as “polite lying.” God forbid that any of us should, be any less courteous than we are; we certainly do not need to cultivate rudeness; but there is a false standard of politeness, and it is the one too often followed. The sort of politeness that depends upon falsehood is evidently not true courtesy; for “no lie is of the truth,” and truth cannot come from lying.     
E. J. Waggoner, Present Truth UK July 11, 1901

1888 Bible Readings for the Home Circle 456-57

From the Pen of Sister White~

“False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive our neighbor, is here included. An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. This precept forbids every effort to injure our neighbor’s reputation by misrepresentation or evil surmising, by slander or tale bearing. Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.” {PP 309.3}

“The ninth commandment requires of us an inviolable regard for exact truth in every declaration by which the character of our fellow men may be affected. The tongue which is kept so little under the control of the human agent is to be bridled by strong, conscientious principles, by the law of love toward God and man.” {17MR 113.3}

“The ninth commandment reads, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Exodus 20:16. This commandment is exceedingly offensive to the man who has educated and trained himself in this kind of work. He loves it, and it has become a part of his nature to seek spot and stain in his neighbor. He has become an expert in misrepresentations, in falsifying. He has learned his trade. He is an expert in this business, and when hearsay brings to his ears a bit of scandal it is as a sweet morsel. He will use it to hurt and injure his neighbor, and in this work he claims to be doing God service. He may even claim to be sanctified while doing this special work of Satan. Satan was an accuser of the brethren. He accused them before God day and night, and there are those who love this favorite business of their master and will do it zealously for him and exult in their adeptness at the work. Master and servant will unite, and the reward they will receive is in accordance with their deeds. Root and branch bear the same kind of fruit, and it is very convenient that the ninth commandment is no more in force, for it would hem him about with its restrictions. Now he can falsify and misrepresent and make good appear evil and evil good, and without fear of condemnation. How convenient to make a raid against the commandments of God, saint and sinners working in the same line!” {Ms23-1885.20}