Of course it makes perfect sense that Superman has to have a secret identity. He's made a lot of enemies over the years. If the villains knew who his friends and family were, even Superman wouldn't be able to watch over and protect all of them at the same time.
As noble as Superman wants to be, is the fact that he's been living a double life just one big lie? As Clark Kent, he tells everyone he's from Smallville when he's really from Krypton. Maybe there's some gray area here since he doesn't say he was born there (although has anyone actually asked Clark where he was born?).
What other lies has he told?
== TEASER ==
Superman's past has been told in different ways so it gets hard to keep up with his current status. Is it public knowledge that Clark was adopted or does everyone believe he's the natural son of Martha and Jonathan Kent? In the beginning, baby Kal-El was taken to an orphanage before the Kents adopted him. In later versions, Martha was just "away" during her pregnancy (this was in John Bryne's version in the 80s).
Was he lying to Lois all the years before he revealed his identity? Lois and Clark dated for a while and it was in Superman #50 in December 1990 where Clark proposes to Lois. By the end of the issue, she accepts. It was a couple months later (but six issues since there were four Superman comics per month and they were all connected) when Superman decides to "tell Lois the truth" in Action Comics #662. It seems this is something he should've told her before asking her to marry him and before she said yes. He should have known that being married to Superman would be a risky thing.
Also, depending on the "history," Clark scored an "exclusive" interview with Superman which gave his career at the Daily Planet a nice boost.
Does hiding the truth mean the same as lying? He may be trying to protect his family and friends but I still think Superman has lied on several occasions. Guess he's not as noble as everyone thinks he is.