I have watched men ruin their own hands by pretending they are afraid when they mean to strike. When a captain hides his true plan, he may surprise the enemy once, but he loses the confidence of his crew forever. They no longer follow him because they cannot tell if he is leading them to victory or to a trap. A man who must always wear a mask walks alone; his friends hesitate to give him their lives, and his enemies suspect a deeper deceit. The very tool needed to move the world—trust—is stripped away by the habit of hiding behind false professions.

What I ask you is this: before you speak your next word, ask if it serves truth or only safety. If you must hide your hand, do so with skill, not with a general air of fear that makes others turn away. Build your reputation on what you show openly, for that open face is the shield that lets you act without constant suspicion. Do not let the need to deceive become the reason you can no longer lead.