A nice write up I must say, so I dropped a follow
But I'd think even if we should tell comforting lies from time to time to our loved ones, family, friends and whomever, I feel when they need to hear the honest truth about something you know would benefit them, then we shouldn't hesitate in that aspect

For example, just as you said telling your wife she's beautiful every morning despite her drooling face,is a comforting but harmless lie but telling a friend who probably smokes that smoking isn't beneficial to the health and would most likely kill him or her is an honest, unpleasant as it may seem but a truth that should be told. It's still up to the person to take it or leave it

Being honest once in awhile isn't bad at all. Just be honest when necessary, when lives are at stake. You could still tell comforting lies only if they're harmless.