As a kid, I was always getting into trouble at school—the weird one asking offbeat questions. Today, I’d probably be labeled and medicated. I vividly remember refusing to memorize multiplication tables. My teacher insisted, “It’s important!” But I’d just visited my cousin with his shiny new electronic calculator. I shot back: “With calculators everywhere, why does this matter?” Boom—big trouble for that cheeky question. And no, before you ask: I never did learn those tables. Later, fresh out of my PhD, I launched a business with zero experience or mentors. It went okay for a while, but man, was it stressful. The issue? I don’t lie. Sure, I slip up accidentally like anyone, but deliberate deception? I hate it and suck at it. When clients asked, “How long will this take?” I’d honestly reply: “I don’t know.” Even now, when I do industry consulting, I stick to the truth. I recall one client handing me a 10-page infrastructure summary and asking for efficiency tips. I paused and said: “I don’t know.” They countered, “Another consultant whipped up a full plan in minutes!” My response: “I wouldn’t trust that guy.” Unfortunately, many people are willing to pay for lies. I try hard to spot these people and decline to work with them. Working as a government researcher shocked me—the institutional lies were everywhere. My boss would blatantly lie to an industry representative right in front of me. Universities, where I work now, might be even worse: lies stacked sky-high. Modern universities sell lies on a grand scale. Each of them is made of tens of Einstein-level researchers. If only they receive a bit more money, they will cure cancer. They are all dedicated to the well being of their students while outsourcing most of the teaching to low-paid staff. No wonder so many academics are unwell. That early business stress? It wasn’t from lies I told. It came from the pressure to start lying. I only recognize the source of the stress years later. Had I been more self-aware, I'd have been calmer and more efficient. I’m convinced lies corrode your soul and weaken you. “The truth will set you free.” « But Daniel, won't lies make you more money? » We live in an imperfect world where lies keep you out of trouble and may even help you on your way to the top. But lying has a cost that might far outweight the benefits. See, we are not playing a game of Monopoly where taking money for the bank while nobody is watching can make you win the game... Your primary objective should be to be someone you can be proud of. Nobody cares, not really, about how much money you earned or how many prizes you won. Sure, you can lie and still feel good about youself, but rationalisation will only take you so far.