"La vérité dite sans compromis aura toujours ses arêtes vives"
— Herman Melville
Simplified Meaning:
When you tell the honest truth without trying to soften it, it can sometimes hurt or upset people. Think about when a friend asks for your opinion on their cooking. If it’s not very good and you tell them exactly how you feel, they might feel hurt or upset because the truth isn’t what they wanted to hear. The same goes for all kinds of situations in life. For example, let's say someone at work isn't doing their job well and you tell them straight out. They might not like hearing it, and it could make them unhappy or angry because the truth can be hard to take. Even though the truth can be harsh and might upset people, it’s important to be honest. A person can apply this idea by being brave enough to tell the truth but also being kind and understanding about how they say it. This way, you're honest without being unnecessarily hurtful.
