The man who fears no truths has nothing to fear from lies.

Falsehood only gets purchase where somebody needs a particular fact not to be so. Once you have looked squarely at the worst version of your situation, there is nothing left for a lie to hook onto, and flattery loses its grip at the same time. Fear of information makes people far more manipulable than any lack of intelligence does.

Ask what you would rather not find out, and whether not knowing is protecting you from anything or only postponing it. Sometimes it is a figure, a letter, or an honest opinion of your work. Looking will not always bring good news, but it does loosen the hold of anyone offering you a more comfortable story.