The Dangerous World, Survival of the Fittest#
In this complex society, there seem to be fewer and fewer people who dare to speak the truth. Every day, many still habitually use vague language like "half-truths," "neither here nor there," and "a mix of reality and illusion." This phenomenon is not accidental; it is a choice people make for survival. We do not want to simply say, "the world is not black and white," but we must admit that those who navigate this world with ease often live in the gray areas.
Survival Rules in the Information Age#
In an age of information explosion, to live comfortably, one must learn to control their words. As the saying goes, "Honest words hurt the ear, good words are not pleasant to hear." Therefore, many times, what we say is mixed with embellishments. This is not because we are inherently hypocritical, but because speaking the truth often comes at a cost. In reality, absolute truth is almost non-existent; everyone uses varying degrees of "lies" to cope with life's challenges.
"White lies" and "less-than-true language" can help us avoid much malice and unnecessary trouble. After all, in a world of crows, the purity of swans is often seen as a original sin.
The Wisdom of Flattery#
When it comes to flattery, many people scoff, considering it an act of "speaking nonsense with eyes wide open." Indeed, in the workplace, flattering leaders is often seen as hypocrisy. However, this "hypocrisy" is often a label others place on you. In this case, you are the beneficiary, and outsiders will naturally be dissatisfied.
But if this behavior occurs within a family, the situation is entirely different. It is not hypocrisy; rather, it is a form of high-level survival wisdom. The object of flattery is not a specific person, but life itself. To make life better, we must make some personal sacrifices.
People crave the truth but do not want it to be too real. Faced with harsh realities, many prefer to hear those "real illusions." Those skilled in flattery can precisely meet this need, cleverly expressing less-than-true words based on sincerity.
The Helplessness of Not Speaking the Truth#
"Not seeking merit, but avoiding faults" is almost the motto of all new leaders. In peaceful times, what counts as merit? Stability is a significant achievement. The trees planted by predecessors have already grown strong; when taking over, instead of rushing to transplant new seedlings, it is better to protect the existing shade.
If you are the leader taking over a project that is clearly a pitfall, would you still choose to speak the truth? We are all mere mortals, lacking true foresight. We can only look as far as the current situation allows. Perhaps a year later, you will find that the initial decision still has room for improvement; even tomorrow, that decision may be overturned. However, these heartfelt truths are never spoken to outsiders.
The Collective Phenomenon of Procrastination#
When solving problems, the fastest way is to lay all known information on the table and find entry points to tackle various small issues one by one. However, this all hinges on the information provided being truthful. Yet in life, many scenarios force us not to speak the truth.
In intimate relationships, we often choose not to speak the truth, or even to tell lies, for the sake of the other person's feelings. This leads to many problems remaining unresolved, instead being shelved and entering a "waiting for processing" state. When this procrastination becomes a collective phenomenon, all problems pile up together, forming a massive trouble.
A few years ago, I had a close encounter with a telephone pole due to being distracted while driving. When friends asked what I was thinking at that moment, I couldn't answer. My mind was filled with those unresolved issues: home renovations, car maintenance, workplace competition, interpersonal relationships... These problems surged together, becoming the reality I had to face.
Leaving Space and Compromise#
Those unspoken truths have become the most dignified spaces in life. And those embellished words are merely the steps we offer to life to "keep the peace." True maturity is learning to express what we most want to say in the least hurtful way, even if those words contain seven parts truth and three parts falsehood.
Living in this complex society, we need the wisdom to balance truth and falsehood, good and evil. Perhaps adapting to this survival rule is a challenge each of us must face. Only through continuous compromise and adjustment can we find our own way to survive.