The Dalai Lama's observation cuts deeper than simply noting that honesty builds trust—he identifies how *opacity itself* becomes corrosive, poisoning relationships even before deception is proven. When someone withholds information, we don't just doubt their words; we become unsettled about our own standing, wondering what we're not being told. Consider how a manager's refusal to explain a hiring decision creates far more office anxiety than a straightforward explanation ever could, even if that explanation isn't what people hoped to hear. Transparency, then, isn't a luxury of conscience but a practical tool for collective peace of mind.