The Lion, Fox and Monkey
A cruel lion was constantly looking for excuses to punish the living beings beside him. First the lion called the monkey and had him smell his breath and asked "Does my breath smell bad?"; when the monkey honestly said "Yes sir, it smells very bad," the lion tore him to pieces. Next the lion called the fox and asked the same question; when the fox flatteringly said "Not at all sir, your breath smells like flowers," the lion accused him of flattery and punished him too. Finally asking another wise fox the same question, the lion received the answer "I have caught a severe cold sir, my nose does not smell anything."
Beside cruel and intentional managers, acting honestly and flattering are equally dangerous. In such environments, the safest way is to stay neutral and manage to stay out of the situation. Whatever answers are given before someone with bad intentions are used as an excuse. Staying away from danger while preserving politeness and intelligence is the greatest wisdom.
Beside the cruel, both honesty and flattery are dangerous. No answer holds before someone looking for an excuse. Both flattery and honesty can be punished. One staying neutral is protected from danger.
The bad-intentioned produces excuses. A wise person steps back in a crisis. Silence saves lives in hard times.