History Main / HonestAdvisor

TheGoodChancellor is this as a matter of course. Often the role of the CourtJester in a royal court, getting away with mouthing off to the king either by couching criticism in satire, or by being (or [[ObfuscatingStupidity appearing to be]]) [[TheFool mentally incompetent]] and thus not a threat. Another term frequently used in the past was "Naysmith" (which survives in the modern surname Naismith), meaning the one person in a royal court who could openly say "no" to the king's plans without fear of censure, forcing the king to accept criticism--the opposite of a YesMan.

* ''{{Roleplay/Communication}}'', the main goal of Consensus, i.e. you guys, the PlayerCharacter, is to [[EarnYourHappyEnding make sure their Hosts get the best ending possible]]. This means telling said Hosts like it is, no matter what they say that may frustrate or even outright offend them in the process of aiding them in their journey. They are officially put into the role in the third incarnation of the Quest.

* Ha-Satan in ''Literature/TheBible'' was a heavenly prosecutor and [[HeavensDevils loyal subordinate to God]] who questioned His decisions and the loyalty of His followers. He was the one responsible for the TraumaCongaLine in ''Literature/BookOfJob'', resulting in a significant amount of confused Christians conflating him with TheDevil.

* [[Series/MasterChef Gordon]] [[Series/HellsKitchen Ramsay]] is basically a DistaffCounterpart to Simon Cowell. He's known for his firey temper, clever comebacks, and taking no bullshit or tomfoolery, but is doing so because he wants to bring the best out of his contestants. Plus, he has 16 Michelin Stars, so clearly his advice and praise from him would mean a LOT.

* [[Series/Masterchef Gordon]] [[Series/HellsKitchen Ramsay]] is basically a DistaffCounterpart to Simon Cowell. He's known for his firey temper, clever comebacks, and taking no bullshit or tomfoolery, but is doing so because he wants to bring the best out of his contestants. Plus, he has 16 Michelin Stars, so clearly his advice and praise from him would mean a LOT.

* The Office of Vizieral Council in ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'' is supposed to hold this role for the reigning Changeling monarch, which is a tough job when most Changeling freeholds have four monarchs who rotate the crown in time with the seasons and are usually rivals. However, the MagicallyBindingContract of the Office states that a Vizier who betrays their current master loses {{the ageless}}ness and protection from SanitySlippage that the position confers, so when a Vizier turns traitor, it is immediately, terrifyingly obvious.

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', Davos Seaworth is this to Stannis Baratheon. This works in his favor, as Stannis is [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]] to a fault, hates people sugar-coating their words or turning the flattery on, and makes Davos his [[TheGoodChancellor Hand]] and a Lord for giving good and honest advice, saying there is nobody more fit to be his Hand.

* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': CC is this to Lelouch because she calls him on his bullshit and points out things he doesn't want to recognize, but she's not a perfect example. While she is generally honest, she also has a habit of withholding important information as well. [[spoiler:Like the reason she gave him Geass in the first place, or the fact that she knows what happened to his mother (as well as knowing her personally).]]
* This is a central trope in ''[[LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]''. The eponymous character is initially a self-centered jackass who finds it difficult to understand that other people have feelings, and may even disagree with her. Unfortunately, she's also an extremely powerful RealityWarper who may have created the universe, and because of this, very few people are willing to tell her when she's wrong. That is where Kyon, the series' POV character, comes in. He is deeply pessimistic and rarely a moment goes by when he does not insult Haruhi... but he's also the only person willing to tell her the truth, and it's his unwavering honesty that kickstarts her CharacterDevelopment into a better person. Haruhi, for her part, usually pretends to ignore him, but the first season's finale makes it pretty clear that she values him more than any other person, and he's the deputy of the group she forms in all but title.
* Jetfire of ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' serves as a nicer version of this. He's generally a good friendly guy to the other Autobots, but he's also one of the few people who's willing to tell Optimus Prime to his face when he thinks the latter is making a bad decision. Optimus respects Jetfire for this.

* ''Fanfic/HopeForTheHeartless'': When the [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron Horned]] [[VillainProtagonist King]] is [[ResurrectedForAJob resurrected]] by [[CosmicEntities the Fates]] for his forced and fixed-term (and only) {{redemption quest}}, they provide him the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Invisibles]] as servants and advisers. As the creations and minors of the Fates, they're powerful creatures of their own right and unable to be hurt physically, thus listing them among those few who are completely unafraid of the [[TheDreaded Horned King]] and unhesitant to give him sound suggestions on how he should treat [[MoralityPet Avalina]] or call him out when he treats her cruelly.

* In the Literature/{{Discworld}} of Creator/AAPessimal, Lord Vetinari is testing out a new employee, born a bonded peasant in [[UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia Far Uberwald]], who is going to perform occasional diplomatic tasks for him. He asks her straight out about [[UsefulNotes/{{Socialism}} her revolutionary sentiments]]. She answers frankly and honestly, pointing out it is wasteful of crossbow bolts and the labour of good comrades to shoot members of the parasitical aristocratic classes. Far rather that they are re-educated to perform an honest day's work, perhaps digging ditches. With no exceptions, My Lord. Vetinari accepts this without comment. Later, he remarks to Sam Vimes that if Irena Politek can speak to him as frankly as that, then he has no doubts she will be every bit as candid to other noble leaders around the Disc.

* ''Theatre/TheSoundOfMusic'': Maria shows herself to be this, holding her own in an argument with Captain Von Trapp about his parenting habits (or lack thereof).
-->'''Captain:''' I don't wish you to discuss my children in this manner.
-->'''Maria:''' Well, you've got to hear from ''someone''. [[WhenYouComingHomeDad You're never home long enough to know them]].
-->'''Captain:''' I said I don't want to hear anymore from you about my children!
-->'''Maria:''' I know you don't, but you've got to!

TheGoodChancellor is this as a matter of course. Often the role of TheJester in a royal court, getting away with mouthing off to the king either by couching criticism in satire, or by being (or [[ObfuscatingStupidity appearing to be]]) [[TheFool mentally incompetent]] and thus not a threat. Another term frequently used in the past was "Naysmith" (which survives in the modern surname Naismith), meaning the one person in a royal court who could openly say "no" to the king's plans without fear of censure, forcing the king to accept criticism--the opposite of a YesMan.

** [[DeadpanSnarker Tyrion]] [[TheTrickster Lannister]] is an errant Honest Advisor (with no fixed advisee, let alone abode) who shamelessly uses the contempt others hold for his being a dwarf to act the role of TheJester when needed: from Jon Snow to Catelyn Stark, his own father, his sister and brother, Joffrey (comes with free insults) and anybody else he comes in range of, he can and will give blunt, honest (various shades of), well-thought-out (given what he knows) and ''accurately'' on-the-nose advice along with the cutting humour and wordplay. [[DeconstructedTrope However, it comes back to bite him, as snarktastic advice can be made to sound like a threat if a wounded party chooses to make it appear that way.]] There's also the fact Tyrion is knowingly helping out a tyrannical and usurping regime as he's related to them, despite his claims to [[TokenGoodTeammate help the common people]] he knows full well Lannister rule is horribly oppressive to the smallfolk.

** Genkai in is one, whose favorite pastime is to call her student a dumbass/moron/dimwit/etc. and outline just how stupidly he's dealing with the current situation. All in all, she isn't afraid to [[TheTrickster trick]], [[DrillSergeantNasty insult]], or [[SinkOrSwimMentor nearly kill Yusuke]] if it means he'll finally stop fooling around and see things clearly. Ironically, this is the very reason Yusuke respects her so much (not that he'd ever admit it of course), because she's the only adult in his life that doesn't screw around with him.

* In ancient Imperial Japan, there was a position known as "nacon" (納言, literally "one to take words from"), they act as the speakers and advisers to their superiors, which in certain cases just so happen to be the emperor himself. Although the position is no more, its legacy can be found in the names of some red bean breeds, named so because of their toughness and thus aversion of breaking when cooked, not unlike how real nacons tend to keep their bellies intact despite their job description and the prevalence of ordered harakiris.

This kind of advisor isn't cruel, just [[BrutalHonesty blunt and outspoken]]. They'll never let their charge take the easy way out, never sugar coat the truth, and never be afraid to criticize. As a result, their wisdom is either completely appreciated by their students, or [[CantTakeCriticism violently rejected if said student is the egotistical type]].

See also HireTheCritic, TheConsigliere and InsurrectionistInheritor.

* In the Literature/{{Discworld}} of Creator/AAPessimal, Lord Vetinari is testing out a new employee, born a bonded peasant in [[UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia Far Uberwald]], who is going to perform occasional diplomatic tasks for him. He asks her straight out about [[UsefulNotes/{{Socialism}} her revolutionary sentiments]]. She answers frankly and honestly, pointing out it is wasteful of crossbow bolts and the labour of good comrades to shoot members of the parasitical aristocratic classes. Far rather that they are re-educated to perfom a honest day's work, perhaps digging ditches. With no exceptions, My Lord. Vetinari accepts this without comment. Later, he remarks to Sam Vimes that if Irena Politek can speak to him as frankly as that, then he has no doubts she will be every bit as candid to other noble leaders around the Disc.

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', Davos Seaworth is this to Stannis Baratheon. This works in his favor, as Stannis is [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]] to a fault, hates people sugar-coating their words or turning the flattery on, and makes Davos his [[TheGoodChancellor Hand]] and a Lord for giving good and honest advise, saying there is nobody more fit to be his Hand.

** [[DeadpanSnarker Tyrion]] [[TheTrickster Lannister]] is an errant Honest Advisor (with no fixed advisee, let alone abode) who shamelessly uses the contempt others hold for his being a dwarf to act the role of TheJester when needed: from Jon Snow to Catelyn Stark, his own father, his sister and brother, Joffrey (comes with free insults) and anybody else he comes in range of, he can and will give blunt, honest (various shades of), well-thought-out (given what he knows) and ''accurately'' on the nose advise along with the cutting humour and wordplay. [[DeconstructedTrope However, it comes back to bite him, as snarktastic advice can be made to sound like a threat if a wounded party chooses to make it appear that way.]] There's also the fact Tyrion is knowingly helping out a tyrannical and usurping regime as he's related to them, despite his claims to [[TokenGoodTeammate help the common people]] he knows full well Lannister rule is horribly oppressive to the smallfolk.
*** Tyrion is notably not this during ''A Dance With Dragons'' due to having passed through the DespairEventHorizon and crawled his way back up through ThePowerOfHate: [[spoiler:The advice he gives Young Griff was definitively not given in good faith and leads the Golden Company to invade Westeros prematurely, likely setting off ''another'' CivilWar and plenty of suffering. Tyrion is well-aware that Griff will have no chance of restoring Targaryen rule even in the best possible scenario. Yet, [[VillainsNeverLie however dishonest the intent, the advice itself still had a solid basis in verifiable fact(s)]]: Daenerys is ''not'' some meek little girl to simply marry and swipe the throne from under with no logical, foreseeable problems with that theoretical course of action. Being a dishonestly honestish, CaptainObvious-skinned onion, for the win. Especially if, say, one suspects the lost Targaryen prince one is currently advising is actually a Blackfyre already geared up to do ''something'' politically destructive with the Golden Company against the Seven Kingdoms as a whole, the Targaryen with dragons and ''the Lannisters'' in particular. Which Tyrion kinda sorta ''does'' very, very strongly suspect. Yeah; trying to divine the "right" side to tacitly or outwardly support for the least amount of fallout in any given direction in ''that'' particular mess (and still survive the experience) is... yeouch. Even without personal issues on top.]]

* The ''Franchise/StarWars'' [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]] has Captain Pellaeon, second-in-command to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Pellaeon is a reasonably smart man, and is always pointing out apparent flaws in Thrawn's plans. Usually Thrawn has already accounted for said flaws, but tolerates (even invites, at times) the criticism because Pellaeon will occasionally point out something he hasn't thought of, and Pellaeon is always respectful about it in any case.

** The Aes Sedai claim this reputation, since they make a magically binding vow never to lie. Though almost every ruler has an Aes Sedai counselor, their actual reputation is as undisputed masters of ExactWords, [[YouDidntAsk tactical omissions]], and otherwise stretching the truth to its limit. Pragmatic rulers just recognize that the Aes Sedai are one of the best-informed organizations in the world, so there's much to be learned from [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow trying to work out their real agenda]].

* Archie Goodwin is Literature/NeroWolfe's legman, gofer and dogsbody more than an actual advisor, but it's frequently implied that one of the main reasons Wolfe keeps him around is because Archie is willing to puncture his pomposity with sarcasm and snark and is able to call him out whenever he feels Wolfe is crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed.

* The only people who ever truly talk back to or argue with Queen Elizabeth in ''Series/TheCrown2016'' are her sister Princess Margaret and husband Prince Phillip. This is largely TruthInTelevision too.

--> '''Kevan:''' I did not return to the capital to serve as your puppet. To watch you stack the Small Council with sycophants.

* ''Series/TheWestWing'': All of President Bartlet's senior staff are fully capable of speaking truth to power; it's absolutely necessary, given who they're advising! Leo and Toby tend to give out the most unmitigated criticism, but Josh, Sam, CJ and even Charlie know not to hold back when the President needs a clear and unvarnished analysis of the situation at hand. Will has difficulty with this at first - in fact, he's given a SecretTest for it by Bartlet, and fails - but gets better at it as he settles into his new senior staff role.

* Louis Howe is this to Franklin Roosevelt in ''Film/WarmSprings'' and in RealLife. He tells Franklin to get back into politics, and to stop wasting time building a polio rehab center in Warm Springs.

** Malcador the Sigilite in the backstory of the game as well as the ''Literature/HorusHeresy'' is shown to have been the Emperor's closest confidant and advisor despite his unassuming appearance. Not only did he manage the Imperium with incredible efficiency and helped established vital institutions like the what became the Inquisition, but also had the privilege of being blunt and frank in his comments (and criticisms) on the Emperor. And the Emperor, for all his disdain against people questioning his views or decisions, ''approved'' of him.

** Loghain himself spent much of his life being this to King Cailan, usually successfully, and it's implied that it was Cailan's refusal to listen to reason (in Loghain's eyes,) in the case of the Blight that convinced Loghain Ferelden would be better off without Cailan.

* Italo Balbo, TheDragon of UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini, who didn't trust the Germans and advised Mussolini to continue with the alliance with France and maybe build up an alliance with UK as well. Mussolini refused and Balbo answered with ''"You will all wind up shining the shoes of the Germans."'' Guess what Mussolini's last job was.
* Creator/WaltDisney had a notorious hatred for [[YesMan Yes-Men]]. He would actively seek out people like Creator/BillPeet and Creator/WardKimball who were known to disagree with him on pretty much everything, because he wanted to hear as many opinions as possible in order to make his films as good as they could be.

* In public, Stephen of ''Film/DjangoUnchained'' seems to be a textbook SycophanticServant, sucking up to his masters and snapping at anyone who seems to oppose them. This is simply because he knows Candie, like any slave owner, would never stand for a slave or any black person showing himself to be smarter than him. In private, Stephen gives Candie meaningful advice that he highly values, [[{{Hypocrite}} despite thinking black people are of biologically inferior intelligence.]]

* In the Literature/{{Discworld}} of Creator/AAPessimal, Lord Vetinari is testing out a new employee, born a bonded peasant in [[UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia Far Uberwald]], who is going to perform occasional diplomatic tasks for him. He asks her straight out about [[UsefulNotes/Socialism her revolutionary sentiments]]. She answers frankly and honestly, pointing out it is wasteful of crossbow bolts and the labour of good comrades to shoot members of the parasitical aristocratic classes. Far rather that they are re-educated to perfom a honest day's work, perhaps digging ditches. Vetinari accepts this without comment. He then remarks to Sam Vimes that if Irena Politek can speak to him as frankly as that, then he has no doubts she will be every bit as candid to other noble leaders around the Disc.

* ''Fanfic/HopeForTheHeartless'': When the [[Disney/TheBlackCauldron Horned]] [[VillainProtagonist King]] is [[ResurrectedForAJob resurrected]] by [[CosmicEntities the Fates]] for his forced and fixed-term (and only) {{redemption quest}}, they provide him the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Invisibles]] as servants and advisers. As the creations and minors of the Fates, they're powerful creatures of their own right and unable to be hurt physically, thus listing them among those few who are completely unafraid of the [[TheDreaded Horned King]] and unhesitant to give him sound suggestions on how he should treat [[MoralityPet Avalina]] or call him out when he treats her cruelly.

* Jiminy Cricket is like this for {{Disney/Pinocchio}}.

* Creator/WaltDisney had a notorious hatred for [[YesMan Yes-Men]]. He would actively seek out people like Bill Peet and Creator/WardKimball who were known to disagree with him on pretty much everything, because he wanted to hear as many opinions as possible in order to make his films as good as they could be.