Love, Lies and the Truth

Love - does anyone really understand it? I think it's been established as an emotion and can be shown in various different ways. You can love someone as a friend, as a parent, as a sibling or as a companion/lover. How is it that friends become lovers and lovers sometimes wind up as only friends. What makes us decide that we want more from some people and less from others? Does any of it makes sense?
Lies - are only lies if someone else knows the truth. Have you ever thought about that? It's sort of like the tree falling in the woods thing. And people don't get hurt unless they know that they are being lied to or have been lied to. Sometimes there is a fine line between the truth and just a little white lie. Some people consider a lie being absence of truth. Sort of like if you know something but don't tell someone about it; you let them believe a lie. You might not have been the one that told the lie but by not telling the truth you are guilty by association. Another gray area.
Truth - it hurts sometimes. It is said that it will set you free. Free from what? Guilt? Being a liar? It may set you free of someone that you love. Ahhh...back to love. It's common assumption that you don't lie to those that you love. So in order to succesfully love you must be truthful so that those you love can trust you. Trust is important. It allows someone to have faith in you and return love. So why is it that some of the most successful marriages, friendships and relationships in general are built not totally on truth but lies, lies and more lies. Is it necessary to lie here and there, withhold the truth and spare the feelings of those that you love? And is it possible that truth in spite of many lies will reignite a relationship. Sometimes we all need to be lied to and sometimes all we need is the truth. But one thing is surely certain....WE ALL NEED LOVE!