One lies to friends in their interests, or to avoid straining the friendship. Rarely are the lies malicious, and when they are, one isn't really being a friend at all.
White lies are good.
But what about the other, more important area of life, where one's integrity is much more important: work. Who lies at work, to cover up mistakes, to do a colleague down, to gain promotion? These lies are far more significant and the level of dishonesty is far greater.