As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.

Honest accounts are not actually in short supply; the appetite for them is. Most of the time somebody in the room knew what was going on and said so, and it was easier for everyone to keep moving. What looks like scarcity is a demand problem wearing a supply problem’s clothes.

Think of a situation where you were badly surprised, and ask whether anyone had warned you. If they had, ask what happened to the warning. Making it slightly safer to be the person who says the awkward thing is one of the cheapest improvements available anywhere.