In a court long ago, Zhao Gao presented a deer to the emperor, calling it a horse. Some officials nodded in agreement; others spoke the truth. Those who told the truth were later silenced.
This story reminds us: power can distort reality, but it cannot erase the truth forever.
In our own lives, we may not face such a dramatic test. Yet we often encounter moments where falsehoods are dressed as facts, and silence feels safer than speaking up. True wisdom is not just knowing what is right—it is having the courage to say it, even when it costs something.
Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is name the deer for what it is.