If information is power, it’s no surprise we lie. We instinctively hold something back to retain leverage, a survival mechanism to protect our most vital resources.
To be open and trusting is to invite predation. Don’t blame people for lying—this cautious instinct can be protective in hostile environments.
The real conflict lies in balancing belief in others with self-preservation. While communal trust fosters security, it also becomes prey to bad actors, eventually dissolving that trust and leaving only frightened survivalists in its wake.