Gandalf's White Lies
Gandalf had several days before the Council of Elrond in which to confide to Elrond, the other High Elves, and Aragorn an accurate account of the words and mind of Saruman, without fear that any of them would be corrupted by Saruman's Machiavellian argument. He knew they could not be corrupted. He did not know that of Gloin, Gimili, Boromir, and maybe even Prince Legolas. It was to bring these up to date that the Council of Elrond was held, and where Gandalf spoke of Saruman. There it was reported that Sauron had attempted to bribe the Dwarves with three Dwarven Rings and with the restoration of Khazad-dum. Legolas's father had a known weakness for riches. Sauron, no fool, knew that most Men, most Dwarves and even some Elves were not incorruptible. Gandalf must have made the same calculation.
There are such things as White Lies, which are lies used to save lives and souls, and which are not for the profit of the liar.
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