Brutal honesty: virtue or vice?

Once there was a woman who had great strength of mind. But once she knew that she was suffering from cancer, she was on the threshold of depression. Because of this poor mental state, the good doctor didn’t tell her the factual situation of her disease and how much more time was left for her.

And because of encouragement from the doctor and her near and dear ones, she survived and began fighting the disease with a bold face and new strength of mind. One day when she went for her monthly check-up, the usual doctor was missing and in her place a new doctor was present. So she casually asked the doctor about her health condition. 

The new doctor, without any pretension, blurted out the factual situation to her face. The result was shocking to the woman. I saw her crumble within inside. It was my mother. From that day onwards, she didn’t speak or indulge in daily activities. She kept on lying on her bed till the last of her days.

So, this is what brutal honesty does to people. If you think that by telling the truth no good is going to happen then there is no point in telling the truth. Or you could present the same fact in a much more decorative way which will at least cut the chances of damage to that person who hears it. On the other hand, if you honestly feel that, by hiding certain facts, it will bring happiness or peace of mind to people; hence you don’t need to have any conscience problems in hiding it.

An unpleasant truth is more dangerous than lying. But that doesn’t mean you have to lie all the way in your life. That is where your common sense and rational mind should be applied. There will be many circumstances in your life where you will have to make such decisions. So always think before you act.

But, if you compare brutal honesty to a gooseberry, which is initially sour and then sweet; then go for it. There is no harm in it. It all lies in your perspective of thought and how do you perceive the receiver of the news will bear it.  It is like two sides of the same coin. It is for you to choose how to flip it!

“Austerity of speech consists in speaking truthfully and beneficially and in avoiding speech that offends.”

- Lord Krishna