“I believe the truth is only offensive when we’re lying.”

Simplified Meaning:

When people get upset hearing the truth, it's often because they are hiding something or not being honest. Imagine a child who broke a vase but tells their parents it was their sibling. If the sibling then says, "I didn't do it, you did," the child who broke the vase might get angry, not because it's a lie, but because the truth is being revealed and they're feeling guilty. In life, when we are honest and straightforward, we are less likely to be offended by the truth. It's when we cover things up or lie that hearing the truth bothers us. For example, if someone is working hard at their job and doing everything right, they won't feel bad if their boss points out mistakes because there won't be any to point out. But if they've been slacking off or not working properly, they'll feel defensive and upset if called out. The advice here is to live honestly and be truthful, so when the truth is spoken, it doesn’t hurt or offend us. If we are truthful in our actions and words, we won’t have to worry about being found out. Being honest with ourselves and others makes it easier to accept the truth without getting hurt or defensive.