If I said something false, realized it, and took it back, did I lie?
The short answer
No. Lying requires the intention to deceive. If you believed you were telling the truth and corrected yourself when you learned otherwise, there is no lie and no sin.
Lying by definition involves intentional deception. The Catechism says a lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving (CCC 2482), and that to lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error (CCC 2483).
You thought you were speaking the truth, and when you found your error you corrected it. You did not lie, and there is no sin.
Continue exploring
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