History BrutalHonesty / Literature

* ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'': In the second book, Greg makes a promise to always be truthful to his mom. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite grasp the distinction between not lying and bluntly stating his full thoughts on a given subject with or without prompting. This leads to him saying insensitive things like that a short boy can never become a basketball player or that Rowley's grandfather may die before ever having another birthday. Greg is also this in general when it comes to his opinions. His grandpa is even bigger, as he will just straight up say who his favorite grandchild is.

** In the sixth book, Dumbledore straight up tells Harry he thinks Divination is a bunch of BS and that Professor Trelawney is a fraud. He only keeps it on the curriculum because parents want it taught and to keep her safe from Voldemort.

* ''LightNovel/DisgaeaNovels'': Ozonne. When [[Characters/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Laharl]] asks her what she thinks of him the first time they meet, she says she thinks he is "a weak and incompetent brat". Later, after she falls for him, she asks him casually to marry her.

* ''Literature/AnOutcastInAnotherWorld'': Elder Alessia when explaining to Rob that [[spoiler:his aversion to killing people will get *him* killed]]. It’s even worse coming from her, as she’s someone who outwardly dislikes him, meaning that she wouldn’t be offering advice at all unless it was for a very important subject that he absolutely needed to know about.

%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Scott Adams endorses this trope as a quick, reliable way to make a situation funny in ''[[ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}} The Joy of Work]]''.

* ''Literature/MyFairyGodmother'': The main character tells her sister that she has to go back in time to rescue the guy who disappeared from his home in the present. It's safe to say that her sister didn't believe her. However, it might be inverted because she cannot lie without having to spit up a frog or something.

* ''Literature/MyFairGodmother'': The main character tells her sister that she has to go back in time to rescue the guy who disappeared from his home in the present. It's safe to say that her sister didn't believe her. However, it might be inverted because she cannot lie without having to spit up a frog or something.

* ''Literature/CityOfTruth'': The main character lives in a city in which everyone has been psychologically conditioned to be unable to lie at all. The book opens with him enjoying driving his new Plymouth Adequate (which replaced his old Honda Cheap) on his way to pick up his son who has been unexpectedly taken ill at Camp Ditch the Kids. But there is a dark quandary waiting for them both, for it turns out that his son has contracted a rare disease which has only ever been cured [[spoiler: with the placebo effect]].

** Luna Lovegood is known for being painfully honest. Most of the time, no-one really minds because the things she says about others aren't very critical, and she reacts with a confused stare instead of an argument when people disagree with her. Her honesty disturbs Harry when she talks about [[IronWoobie her own life]], namely that everyone considers her crazy and picks on her, and she doesn't have any friends.

** ''Literature/BerenAndLuthien'': Beren tells Thingol to his face that he is disrespecting his daughter, and that obtaining the Silmaril is a bad idea. Given that Thingol is not only the most politically powerful ruler in Beleriand, but also a several thousand years old light-elf married to a [[OurAngelsAreDifferent literal angel]], this is a pretty gutsy move. Beren is ultimately correct, however.

* ''Literature/VillageTales'': The clergy don't mince words. The Duke is polite only ''tactically'', and on rare occasions. The [[DrJerk GP]] is noted for such remarks as "Of course you're unwell, you're fat! Digging your grave with a fork and your teeth!" Lady Crispin is fraffly plain-spoken. It would be hard to find anyone who wasn't weapons-grade blunt. Gossip is carefully kept from the ears of those who'd be hurt by it, but if something ''is'' said, it's not sugar-coated. (TruthInTelevision insofar as country folk tend to bluntness and the working and upper classes in the UK consider indirection and politesse a middle-class thing.)

** ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'': The Ghost [[spoiler:specifically Walter]] has this as a predominant feature of his personality. He isn't trying to be cruel, but he can be ''viciously'' accurate -- as Agnes finds out when, while imitating Christine under cover of darkness to find out his game (and his offer to teach 'Christine') and pulling a ButHeSoundsHandsome. The reply is that this is true, but musical ability can be trained (though he later concedes that Christine will never be ''quite'' as good). The difference in looks (slim, pretty, blonde vs BrawnHilda) and grace, however, can't.

** ''Literature/TheLayOfLeithian'' has Beren tell Thingol to his face that he is disrespecting his daughter, and that obtaining the Silmaril is a bad idea. Given that Thingol is not only the most politically powerful ruler in Beleriand, but also a several thousand years old light-elf married to a [[OurAngelsAreDifferent literal angel]], this is a pretty gutsy move. Beren is ultimately correct, however.

* Ax of ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' once met a small girl in a hospital. She asked him if he was a fairy and what his name was. [[TheSpock He answered her correctly and politely.]] Ax was somewhat known for this:

* Elder Alessia in ''Literature/AnOutcastInAnotherWorld'' when explaining to Rob that [[spoiler:his aversion to killing people will get *him* killed]]. It’s even worse coming from her, as she’s someone who outwardly dislikes him, meaning that she wouldn’t be offering advice at all unless it was for a very important subject that he absolutely needed to know about.
* In James Morrow's ''Literature/{{City of Truth}}'' the main character lives in a city in which everyone has been psychologically conditioned to be unable to lie at all. The book opens with him enjoying driving his new Plymouth Adequate (which replaced his old Honda Cheap) on his way to pick up his son who has been unexpectedly taken ill at Camp Ditch the Kids. But there is a dark quandary waiting for them both, for it turns out that his son has contracted a rare disease which has only ever been cured [[spoiler: with the placebo effect]].
* Christopher, the main character from ''Literature/TheCuriousIncidentOfTheDogInTheNightTime'', is autistic and ''can't'' lie. He explains this by saying that if he said he ate Corn Flakes for breakfast when in fact he had Cheerios, he would be thinking about something that hadn't happened; but then he'd think of other things that hadn't happened, for example, that there hadn't been a scuba diver at the table, or an elephant, and so on, and would get so wrapped up in thinking about what didn't happen that he'd forget the lie he'd told in the first place. It goes so far that he considers ''anything'' that didn't really happen a lie, even fiction (the one exception is ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' novels, which he enjoys). It's not just lying, either -- he can't pick up on social cues, so he doesn't know what's appropriate to say and what isn't, and so has to be told not to say that one of his classmates is so stupid he would eat pound notes, coins, and his own poop. This is TruthInTelevision for many people with autism (though the opposite can also be true).

* ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'': In the second book, Greg makes a promise to always be truthful to his mom. Unfortunately, this new "honest" Greg would go on to say insensitive things, like that a short boy could never become a basketball player and that Rowley's grandfather may die before ever having another birthday. Greg is also this in general when it comes to his opinions. His grandpa is even bigger, as he will just straight up say who his favorite is.

** Brutha from ''Literature/SmallGods'' isn't so much incapable of lying as he is unable to understand the concept. Given his perfect memory (the first thing he remembers is a bright light followed by someone hitting him), he doesn't get why people would go around saying things that didn't happen.
** The Ghost [[spoiler: specifically, Walter]] in ''{{Literature/Maskerade}}'' has this as a predominant feature of his personality. He isn't trying to be cruel, but he can be ''viciously'' accurate - as Agnes finds out when, while imitating Christine under cover of darkness to find out his game (and his offer to teach 'Christine') and pulling a ButHeSoundsHandsome. The reply is that this is true, but musical ability can be trained (though he later concedes that Christine will never be ''quite'' as good). The difference in looks (slim, pretty, blonde vs BrawnHilda) and grace, however, can't.
** This is one of the responsibilities of Professor John Hix from Unseen University's Department of [[{{Necromancer}} Necroman]]... er, that is, [[InsistentTerminology Department of Post-Mortem Communications]]. As UU's resident "evil" wizard, he is expected to make tasteless remarks anyway and so it falls to him to say the things no one else wants to say, but must be said regardless.
* [[Characters/DisgaeaNovels Ozonne]] from the the ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' [[LightNovel/DisgaeaNovels novels]]. When [[Characters/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Laharl]] asks her what she thinks of him the first time they meet, she says she thinks he is "a weak and incompetent brat". Later, after she falls for him, she asks him casually to marry her.
* Sasha in ''Literature/GreekNinja'' never hesitates to tell the truth even when it's devastating.
* The Houyhnhnms in ''Literature/GulliversTravels'' are completely honest by nature, to the extent that their language ''has no word for a lie.''

--->'''Parvati Patil:''' Professor Trelawney did astrology with us! Mars causes accidents and burns and things like that, and when it makes an angle to Saturn, like now, that means people need to be extra careful when handling hot things—\\
'''Firenze:''' [calmly] That, is human nonsense.

* The works of ''Creator/JRRTolkien'':
** ''Literature/TheLayOfLeithian''has Beren tell Thingol to his face that he is disrespecting his daughter, and that obtaining the Silmaril is a bad idea. Given that Thingol is not only the most politically powerful ruler in Beleriand, but also a several thousand year old light-elf married to a [[OurAngelsAreDifferent literal angel]]; this is a pretty gutsy move. Beren is ultimately correct though.
** ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Denethor saying that [[YouShouldHaveDiedInstead Faramir should have died instead of Boromir]] is even worse in the book than in the film. In the film, Denethor at least seems aware of what a terrible thing he's saying and says it with some solemnity. In the book, Denethor replies with "Certainly I wish it, for Boromir was loyal to me, and no wizard's pupil." And then has the fact that he was ultimately responsible for Boromir's death thrown brutally (and truthfully) back in his face since Denethor overrode Faramir's desire that he be the one to go to the meeting in Rivendell and sent Boromir instead.
* In ''Literature/MyFairGodmother'', the main character tells her sister that she has to go back in time to rescue the guy who disappeared from his home in the present. It's safe to say that her sister didn't believe her. However, it might be inverted because she cannot lie without having to spit up a frog or something.
* Wallace Wallace of ''Literature/NoMoreDeadDogs'' practices this because his father told him about fighting in the Vietnam conflict, making his son very proud of him. Wallace is disappointed to find out that his father was lying about the whole thing (he was too young to have even been in the army during the Vietnam conflict.) His incredibly harsh but entirely honest book report on "[[DeathByNewberyMedal Old Shep,]] [[ClicheStorm My Pal]]" leads to his English teacher (who's directing the school play of the book) to believe that he never read it.

---> '''Darcy:''' You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. In declaring myself thus I'm fully aware that I will be going expressly against the wishes of my family, my friends, and, I hardly need add, my own better judgement.

--> '''Morrow:''' I did something wrong… didn’t I?
--> I sized him up, deciding how to answer that. Alchemist would probably have wanted me to soften the truth. But if I did that, I would feel like I was bullshitting him. And even if I did, he would probably just keep digging until he got the truth out of me.
--> “You pretty much did,” I said. “You fucked up real bad, and you hurt all three of us. And it could’ve been a lot worse if we hadn’t all worked together to save you. But -” I grabbed his shoulder and made him look at me. “– it’s over now. You don’t have to hurt anyone anymore.”
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/RejectionSlips": "Gruff", the second letter, is a poem that uses short rhyming couplets to declare the submission is terrible, and that anything else can and should be sent instead.

* A number of characters from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
** Sandor Clegane, an embittered StrawNihilist who's perfectly willing to shatter people's fancy delusions into powder.
** Ser Davos Seaworth, a common smuggler raised above his station that's so loyal to his king that he makes a point of avoiding the ass-kissing behavior others display. His boss appreciates this so much he's repeatedly ''promoted'' for it without asking, as his advice gets more valued than any of the other advisors.
** Stannis Baratheon, Davos's boss, seems incapable of sparing anyone's feelings even if he ''tries''. His most heartwarming gestures ''still'' crash into the recipients with unpleasant truths attached.
** Tyrion Lannister is also adept at using this for his own purposes. Especially noticeable in his treatment of Jon Snow, who incidentally is one of the few people Tyrion calls 'friend'. One of the things he likes about TheDragon Bronn is the latter's lack of pretension, and tendency to be completely open about what he thinks of their CrapsackWorld. On the other hand, when Tyrion makes the mistake of CallingTheOldManOut and demanding to know why he is denied his rightful inheritance, Lord Tywin responds with a truly vicious (and totally undeserved) TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, spelling out everything he hates about his dwarf son.

* In ''Literature/SonOfTheBlackSword'', Ashok. As even TheResenter is forced to admit:
--> "Your unflinching honesty is going to get you challenged to a duel one of these days. But it also makes it impossible to hate you."
* In ''Literature/ThoseThatWake'', Man in Suit weaponizes this.
-->'''Man in Suit:''' I will answer any question you have, because by merely being honest, I will defeat you.
* ''Literature/{{Uprooted}}'': Alosha the Witch is [[WizardsLiveLonger very old]], very wise, and utterly blunt when talking to Agnieszka -- even when saying that she wanted Agnieszka's dearest friend executed to protect TheNeedsOfTheMany or telling Agnieszka that she accidentally started a war. She also bluntly tells Agnieszka that she's [[InnocentProdigy far too powerful for her age]] and needs to grow up ''fast'' so her innocent mistakes won't cost lives.
* Rose Hathaway from ''Literature/VampireAcademy'' isn't shy to speak her mind, regardless of how inappropriate the situation.
* Inevitable in the ''Literature/VillageTales'' novels. The clergy don't mince words. The Duke is polite only ''tactically.'' And on rare occasions. The [[DrJerk GP]] is noted for such remarks as, "Of course you're unwell, you're fat! Digging your grave with a fork and your teeth!" Lady Crispin is fraffly plain-spoken. It would be hard to find anyone who wasn't weapons-grade blunt. ''Gossip'' is carefully kept from the ears of those who'd be hurt by it, but if something ''is'' said, it's not sugar-coated. (TruthInTelevision insofar as country folk tend to bluntness and the working and upper classes in the UK consider indirection and politesse a middle-class thing.)
* Wind Runner from ''Literature/WarriorCatsDawnOfTheClans'' does this for Bumble. While the other cats are wondering whether Bumble should join them or not, Wind Runner bluntly tells her that she can't because she doesn't know the ways of a wild cat.

%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample** Darcy's aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourg, is all of the above UpToEleven.

* Christopher, the main character from ''Literature/TheCuriousIncidentOfTheDogInTheNightTime'', is autistic and ''can't'' lie. He explains this by saying that if he said he ate Corn Flakes for breakfast when in fact he had Cheerios, he would be thinking about something that hadn't happened; but then he'd think of other things that hadn't happened, for example, that there hadn't been a scuba diver at the table, or an elephant, and so on, and would get so wrapped up in thinking about what didn't happen that he'd forget the lie he'd told in the first place. It goes so far that he considers ''anything'' that didn't really happen a lie, even fiction (the one exception is ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' novels, which he enjoys). It's not just lying, either -- he can't pick up on social cues, so he doesn't know what's appropriate to say and what isn't, and so has to be told not to say that one of his classmates is so stupid he would eat pound notes, coins, and his own poop. This is TruthInTelevision for many people with autism (though the opposite can also be true [note] because autistic people may react to the stress of intentionally lying in ways that neurotypical people don't expect, and thus don't read as a "tell". So if an autistic person IS capable of lying, it may be impossible to tell if they are lying except with a brain scan. Also, even those who cannot make up something which didn't happen, may be perfectly capable of lying by omission. Indeed this is rather easy for the autistic, because of being OverlyLiteral. Unless asked a direct and specific question, they will tend to give a MathematiciansAnswer even when they aren't trying to be deceptive. Some are capable of doing this intentionally after the tendency has been pointed out to them. Long story short, autistic people are individuals with very different abilities and experiences: and autism can manifest in a variety of different ways. No single literary depiction captures the experience or abilities of all autistic people.[/note])

* Christopher, the main character from ''Literature/TheCuriousIncidentOfTheDogInTheNightTime'', is autistic and ''can't'' lie. He explains this by saying that if he said he ate Corn Flakes for breakfast when in fact he had Cheerios, he would be thinking about something that hadn't happened; but then he'd think of other things that hadn't happened, for example, that there hadn't been a scuba diver at the table, or an elephant, and so on, and would get so wrapped up in thinking about what didn't happen that he'd forget the lie he'd told in the first place. It goes so far that he considers ''anything'' that didn't really happen a lie, even fiction (the one exception is ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' novels, which he enjoys). It's not just lying, either -- he can't pick up on social cues, so he doesn't know what's appropriate to say and what isn't, and so has to be told not to say that one of his classmates is so stupid he would eat pound notes, coins, and his own poop. This is TruthInTelevision for many people with autism.

* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Denethor saying that [[YouShouldHaveDiedInstead Faramir should have died instead of Boromir]] is even worse in the book than in the film. In the film, Denethor at least seems aware of what a terrible thing he's saying and says it with some solemnity. In the book, Denethor replies with "Certainly I wish it, for Boromir was loyal to me, and no wizard's pupil." And then has the fact that he was ultimately responsible for Boromir's death thrown brutally (and truthfully) back in his face since Denethor overrode Faramir's desire that he be the one to go to the meeting in Rivendell and sent Boromir instead.

--> “You pretty much did,” I said. “You fucked up real bad, and you hurt all three of us. And it could’ve been a lot worse if we hadn’t all worked together to save you. But –-” I grabbed his shoulder and made him look at me. “– it’s over now. You don’t have to hurt anyone anymore.”

--> “You pretty much did,” I said. “You fucked up real bad, and you hurt all three of us. And it could’ve been a lot worse if we hadn’t all worked together to save you. But –” I grabbed his shoulder and made him look at me. “– it’s over now. You don’t have to hurt anyone anymore.”

** Martha, who is not used to working for the gentry, frequently tells Mary (who still expects help getting dressed at age nine) that Martha's four-year-old sister can look after herself better. She also compares wealthy kids, who are taken for walks by a nurse rather than playing on their own, to puppies.