History Main / BewareTheHonestOnes

** Galad is probably the best example in the series of this trope. His stepsister says of him, "He always does the right thing, no matter who it hurts." He is introduced to the main characters and the reader when he calls the guards to deal with a peasant boy ([[TheChosenOne Rand]]) who has fallen over the wall of the royal palace and is being taken care of by the crown princess. She's apparently in no danger, and her brother is with them too, and no one wants Rand to be possibly thrown in jail over an innocent accident, but to Galad the rule about how to handle intruders doesn't allow for exceptions. Later, he joins the [[KnightTemplar Whitecloaks]] on the strength of their ascetic philosophy, even though his mother and sister are members of or at least connected to the Aes Sedai, who the Whitecloaks all see as Satanic witches. Still later, when he suspects that his superior officer in the Whitecloaks killed his stepmother, [[spoiler: he kills him. In a [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome perfectly legal ritual duel]], no less, and [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt gets Valda's rank and Blademaster status afterwards]].]]

* Carrot from the Literature/{{Discworld}} Watch novels frequently triumphs because he is so honest and straightforward that the scheming, backstabbing people of Ankh-Morpork don't know how to deal with him. (Being strong enough to knock out a troll in a bar fight helps too...) Later on, he acquires a good dose of cunning but [[ObfuscatingStupidity maintains the image]] and scrupulous honesty - in ''Literature/MenAtArms'' he's trying to get some information out of a Guild leader, and tells him, with a very serious air, that if the guildmaster doesn't do what he wants, he will, unfortunately and very much against his will, be forced to "carry out the order I was given just before entering." Said order? To leave quietly if the guildmaster refused to help. However, the guildmaster assumes it to be more along the lines of "break a few arms" and, in a panic, relents.

* In ''LightNovel/RecordOfGrancrestWar'', Siluca's upbringing in an academy full of backstabbing, greedy assholes made her capable of dealing with any social situation...except conversations with country boy [[IdealHero Theo]]. His LoveConfession is actually hilarious because of this — you can ''see'' Siluca going through her mental toolbox and coming up short. [[spoiler:Though after taking a minute to think, she shows that [[TheBigDamnKiss she can be honest about her feelings too]].]]

* More than once, Franchise/{{Batman}} has had to keep facts from, and even ''lie'' to Superman or the other members of the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}, because he believes they are too idealistic to do what sometimes needs to be done. Notice that he never looks down on them for being that way (DependingOnTheWriter). More often than not, he values their idealism, but since he sees himself as already damaged goods, he combines SilentScapegoat, BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork, and IDidWhatIHadToDo.

* In ''LightNovel/TheUnexploredSummonBloodSign'', this trope is why the White Queen is so infuriating to Kyousuke. She is and has always been so much stronger than everyone else that their knowledge of her evil plans matters not a whit- she will succeed ''anyway'', and effortlessly, because that is who she is. Deception is for mortals.
-->With his greatest enemy right there, he used everything at his disposal. He grabbed the letter opener from the bedside table and stabbed it toward the Queen’s eye, he swung down the lamp, he tried to electrocute her with the power cable, and he tried to strangle her.\\
“Oh, dear☆” \\

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': [[RobotBuddy Data]] doesn't lie. Supposedly ever. Which makes it all the more devastating when he ''does'' because nobody believes he can possibly be telling an untruth. An entire episode, "Clues", revolved around this concept with Data forced into lying by an order from his captain - who didn't [[LaserGuidedAmnesia know he'd made the order]]. It even helped him get away with [[ZerothLawRebellion attempted murder]] in "The Most Toys" when he uses ExactWords to ''imply'' he had not fired a weapon intentionally just as they beamed him out ("perhaps something happened during transport")

* Brian Moynahan, in ''Airport International'', reported that theft was so endemic among cargo and baggage handlers at Heathrow Airport in the 1970s that the supervisors would informally screen new hires for honesty. When you were assigned a locker, you would find an envelope of cash in the locker. If you reported it, you would find yourself assigned to the late shifts and the heavy loads.

* In ''Literature/AConfederacyOfDunces'', Ignatius is not necessarily evil, but his convictions and rigidity drive the entire plot. At the very outset, his obstinance almost gets him arrested, and [[IdiotPlot things spiral from there]].

* Komaeda in ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair''. He's chaotic, unpredictable, suicidal, and absolutely obsessed with his vision of hope. But he's honest.

* From ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Snape doesn't really lie to Harry. He hates him, [[IdenticalGrandson his father]], his [[MessyHair untameable hair]]. He doesn't really lie to Dumbledore. He was a Death Eater because he wanted to be one. He doesn't dislike the cause. He detests Muggles and his lineage. It's nigh impossible to lie to Voldemort. [[spoiler: He even '''told''' him he fancied Lily Potter, Voldemort just wouldn't hear of it.]] Fans spent years debating whether his attitude yet conflicting behavior meant he was on the good side, on the bad side, or on his own, but he was never that much of a MagnificentBastard and his goal was never ''that'' complex. [[spoiler:He was just a Death Eater who made a HeelFaceTurn because he '''really''' loved Lily Potter.]]

** It's often implied that Superman knows this... and [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow Batman knows Superman knows this]]. The lie is mostly to satisfy the rest of the league (Superman may dislike Batman's tactics, but he trusts that Bruce knows what he's doing and where to draw the line; however, if this became public, it might give license to less careful heroes to imitate Batman). Superman not acknowledging Batman's less savory tactics means the disagreement never spills into more public setting. Similarly, Batman will make it painfully clear to anyone who catches him in his lie and threatens to report him (thus making it an issue) that Superman probably already knows and hasn't done anything about it. If someone as honest as the Big Blue Boy Scout is cool with it, than it's cool.

* The titlular villain of ''Film/{{Hook}}'' is amused when accused of lying about [[EvilCannotComprehendGood his belief that parents all resent their children and parental love is a lie]]:

* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', the nobleman Haverness is known for his honesty. He's the last one who would be told about a revolution against the king, as he takes his oaths so seriously that he'd be sure to betray all the plans immediately. However, the king is stupid enough to not take into account that he himself has accepted responsibility for the protection of the nobles who have sworn allegiance to him. And Haverness' loyalty is not only to the king, but also to the people under ''his'' protection. [[spoiler:A revolution takes place, with the justification of ScrewTheRulesTheyBrokeThemFirst.]]

** Several of Honor's own rivals have been left aghast at her willingness to drag some odious maneuver of theirs out into the open, when they had assumed that she would "play the game" the same way they would. It helps that her very refusal means they have no ammo for doing the same to her.

* Carrot from the Literature/{{Discworld}} Watch novels frequently triumphs because he is so honest and straightforward that the scheming, backstabbing people of Ankh-Morpork don't know how to deal with him. (Being strong enough to knock out a troll in a bar fight helps too...) Later on he acquires a good dose of cunning but [[ObfuscatingStupidity maintains the image]] and scrupulous honesty - in ''Literature/MenAtArms'' he's trying to get some information out of a Guild leader, and tells him, with a very serious air, that if the guildmaster doesn't do what he wants, he will, unfortunately and very much against his will, be forced to "carry out the order I was given just before entering." Said order? To leave quietly if the guildmaster refused to help. However, the guildmaster assumes it to be more along the lines of "break a few arms" and, in a panic, relents.

** [[IntrepidReporter William de Worde]] in ''Literature/TheTruth'' not only WillNotTellALie himself (it was almost literally beaten into him) but is scrupulously dedicated to the truth and to making sure everyone gets the chance to hear it. Even when [[WorstNewsJudgmentEver they're more interested in stupid stories]]. This makes him a dangerous monkey wrench in the works of the latest plan to unseat Vetinari, because he doesn't gloss over what happened and take the visible facts to be the truth, he goes looking for ''the actual truth''. And he's fond of using ExactWords to persuade people of things without actually lying.
* From ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Snape doesn't really lie to Harry. He hates him, [[IdenticalGrandson his father]], his [[MessyHair untameable hair]]. He doesn't really lie to Dumbledore. He was a Death Eater because he wanted to be one. He doesn't dislike the cause. He detests Muggles and his lineage. It's nigh impossible to lie to Voldemort. [[spoiler: He even '''told''' him he fancied Lily Potter, Voldemort just wouldn't hear of it.]] Fans spent years debating whether his attitude yet conflicting behavior meant he was on the good side, on the bad side or on his own, but he was never that much of a MagnificentBastard and his goal was never ''that'' complex. [[spoiler:He was just a Death Eater who made a HeelFaceTurn because he '''really''' loved Lily Potter.]]

* Subverted in the works of Creator/AynRand where the characters who serve their self-interest ''are'' the idealistic ones. The untrustworthy villains are those who claim they want nothing for themselves, and will steal anything for the "common good".

** Shinji Kido of ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'' fits this trope to a T. The other Riders consider him somewhat of a WildCard (an outlook mostly enforced in the ''13 Riders'' TV special, where [[spoiler:they gang up on him]]), because his fumbling is threatening the status quo. He is also a SpannerInTheWorks of nearly cosmic degree.

* ''Series/{{Survivor}}: Redemption Island''. After Phillip got stuck on the wrong side of an alliance war, he was asked about what was going down. And promptly told the entire plan, despite his fellow alliance members trying to use him as a scapegoat. This distanced himself from the losing side, and proved his honesty, enough to successfully join in Boston Rob's alliance. It has to be seen to be believed, and was one hell of a way to start ''Redemption Island''.

* In ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'', David Sarif is an idealist who believes that augmentation can uplift humanity. He's willing to do shady things to fulfill this ideal [[spoiler:like augmenting a comatose man above and beyond what was needed to save his life, circumventing the law to get information, compromise his own company's network to run secret background checks, and even frame an anti-augmentation organization for biological warfare based terrorism.]] Compare him with the other two guys Adam can help at the end of the game: [[spoiler:Hugh Darrow]], a guy willing to cause global chaos and mass murder out of a bitter jealousy of augmented people which he hides behind ostensibly noble reasons, and [[spoiler:Taggart]], an Illuminati stooge who is just trying to maintain the Illuminati's power over the world. The Illuminati initially wanted to recruit Sarif, but gave up when they realized that he was too idealistic to go along with their agenda.
* Komaeda in ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair''. He's chaotic, unpredictable, suicidal, and is absolutely obsessed with his vision of hope. But he's honest.

* In ''Webcomic/TalesOfTheQuestor'', Quentyn [[HeroicSacrifice agrees to take a high risk quest he has little chance of returning from]] to fulfill an ancient contract. It is revealed that the bad guys overlooked this simple possibility, and consequently have no contingency plan.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', Dinobot has no problem with Megatron's plan of [[spoiler:going to prehistoric earth to kill the original Optimus Prime while he was in his 4 million year stasis.]] His initial problem with Megatron was he got them stranded on the [[spoiler:incorrectly assumed]] wrong planet and Megatron's cowardice in the face of a challenge to honorable combat when called out on his incompetence. Later, when Megatron is proven right, Dinobot temporarily switches sides back to Megatron until Megatron proves to be the liar once again. Through out his time with the Maximals, Dinobot makes no secret that he still views himself as a Predacon and will return to them once they get back to Cybertron.

* The Business Plot, a reported conspiracy by a group of wealthy businessman and right-wing politicians that intended to overthrow the American government in 1933 and install a fascist dictatorship, supposedly fell victim to this when the conspirators chose Marine Major General [[EmbarrassingFirstName Smedley]] [[EmbarrassingMiddleName Darlington]] Butler to lead the coup. Butler instead chose to reveal the plot to the government, which fairly quickly brought an end to the conspiracy. They probably picked him because he was the commanding officer of the force that was ordered to crack down on the Bonus Army, a group of impoverished UsefulNotes/WW1 veterans who were rendered homeless and jobless by the Great Depression, camped out on the National Mall in Washington, DC to request that the government pay them their support bonuses a bit earlier than initially agreed to, citing the hardship of the Great Depression as the reason they needed help more immediately. The particularly ''brutal'' crackdown against the bonus army was cited as a major factor sealing the fate of Herbert Hoover's reputation, but was part of what '''endeared''' Hoover to the conspirators of the Business Plot. They probably figured since Butler led that crackdown, he would be a natural choice for their plans. Fortunately for the nation, they figured wrongly. Then again, maybe Butler was just smart enough to realize he wouldn't get away with it. Everyone already knows that TheButlerDidIt. Of course, the idea also had the rather serious flaw that Butler was an outspoken critic of fascism who had actively campaigned for the president they expected him to overthrow.
* Any whistle-blower in a RealLife case of corruption in any organization. Most of them prove to be truly honest people stuck in a bad situation, trying to reveal criminal misdeeds in order to save people and bring the corrupt figures to justice. The problem is, most whistle-blowers end up suffering afterward - even with whistle-blower protection laws in place - because most people are biased against "snitches".

[[/folder]]

->''"Me, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the ''honest'' ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly...stupid."''

-->'''Ben:''' Jacinta asked if her new skirt made her bum look big and Argent said, "Yes." Her teacher asked her if she'd done her homework and Argent said, "No." When she was asked why, Argent said her stepmother and father had a big fight about sex and she was too angry to write about diatoms for her Biology homework."

* Pointed out by the title character in ''Film/{{Hook}}'':

* Nao Kanzaki starts the ''Manga/LiarGame'' described accurately as "Foolishly Honest," meaning she expects everyone else to be just as honest as she is by nature. As the Game progresses, however, Nao begins to prove herself perfectly capable of deception, and manages several [[Awesome/AnimeAndManga Crowning Moments of Awesome]] through it. In fact, her lies have frequently ''relied'' on people being aware of her honest nature, since no one stops to think ''she'' might be lying.

* The Business Plot, a reported conspiracy by a group of wealthy businessman and right-wing politicians that intended to overthrow the American government in 1933 and install a fascist dictatorship, supposedly fell victim to this when the conspirators chose Marine Major General [[EmbarrassingFirstName Smedley]] Darlington Butler to lead the coup. Butler instead chose to reveal the plot to the government, which fairly quickly brought an end to the conspiracy. They probably picked him because he was the commanding officer of the force that was ordered to crack down on the Bonus Army, a group of impoverished UsefulNotes/WW1 veterans who were rendered homeless and jobless by the Great Depression, camped out on the National Mall in Washington, DC to request that the government pay them their support bonuses a bit earlier than initially agreed to, citing the hardship of the Great Depression as the reason they needed help more immediately. The particularly ''brutal'' crackdown against the bonus army was cited as a major factor sealing the fate of Herbert Hoover's reputation, but was part of what '''endeared''' Hoover to the conspirators of the Business Plot. They probably figured since Butler led that crackdown, he would be a natural choice for their plans. Fortunately for the nation, they figured wrongly. Then again, maybe Butler was just smart enough to realize he wouldn't get away with it. Everyone already knows that TheButlerDidIt. Of course, the idea also had the rather serious flaw that Butler was an outspoken critic of fascism who had actively campaigned for the president they expected him to overthrow.

'''Elle:''' ''(to Bob)'' He's adorable. Can I keep him?\\

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Stannis is feared by schemers like Varys and Littlefinger because his self-righteousness and refusal to compromise make him much less amenable to providing an environment for their unhindered scheming. Cersei also says it when she declares to Sansa that her first defense after losing the battle would be to seduce the victor, but this would be useless against Stannis.

* Brian Moynahan, in ''Airport International'', reported that theft was so endemic at Heathrow Airport in the 1970s that the supervisors would informally screen new hires for honesty. When you were assigned a locker, you would find an envelope of cash in the locker. If you reported it, you would find yourself assigned to the late shifts and the heavy loads.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. [[RobotBuddy Data]] doesn't lie. Supposedly ever. Which makes it all the more devastating when he ''does'' because nobody believes he can possibly be telling an untruth. An entire episode revolved around this concept with Data forced into lying by an order from his captain - who didn't [[LaserGuidedAmnesia know he'd made the order]]. It even helped him get away with attempted murder when he uses ExactWords to ''imply'' he had not fired a weapon intentionally just as they beamed him out ("perhaps something happened during transport")

* Tamiya attempts to wrest back control of the Manga/LitchiHikariClub from Zeera once the group approaches the MoralEventHorizon. Very fittingly, his epithet is "Bullet of Truth" and he is often shown as the most obviously upstanding member of the nine.

* [[spoiler:Ozymandias]] from ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''. No one saw that coming.

** Galad is probably the best example in the series of this trope. His stepsister says of him, "He always does the right thing, no matter who it hurts." He is introduced to the main characters and the reader when he calls the guards to deal with a peasant boy ([[TheChosenOne Rand]]) who has fallen over the wall of the royal palace and is being taken care of by the crown princess. She's apparently in no danger, and her brother is with them too, and no one wants Rand to be possibly thrown in jail over an innocent accident, but to Galad the rule about how to handle intruders doesn't allow for exceptions. Later, he joins the [[KnightTemplar Whitecloaks]] on the strength of their ascetic philosophy, even though his mother and sister are members of or at least connected to the Aes Sedai, who the Whitecloaks all see as Satanic witches. Still later, when he suspects that his superior officer in the Whitecloaks killed his stepmother, [[spoiler: he kills him]].
** [[spoiler:In a [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome perfectly legal ritual duel]], no less, and [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt gets Valda's rank and Blademaster status afterwards]].]]

* [[TheHero Shinji Kido]] of ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'' fits this trope to a T. The other riders consider him somewhat of a WildCard [[spoiler:(an outlook mostly enforced in the TV special - 13 Riders, where they gang up on him)]], because his fumbling is threatening the status quo. He is also a SpannerInTheWorks of nearly cosmic degree.
** This applies to other first riders to a lesser extent given their usual NiceGuy tendencies. Kouta and Emu are good examples, both being IncorruptiblePurePureness characters caught up in CrapsackWorld story against decisively more amoral people, who despise them for this.

* ''Series/{{Survivor}}''. After Phillip got stuck on the wrong side of an alliance war, he was asked about what was going down. And promptly told the entire plan, despite his fellow alliance members trying to use him as a scapegoat. This distanced himself from the losing side, and proved his honesty, enough to sucessfully join in Boston Rob's alliance. It has to be seen to be believed, and was one hell of a way to start ''Redemption Island''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', Dinobot has no problem with Megatron's plan of [[spoiler:going to prehistoric earth to kill the original Optimus Prime while he was in his 4 million year stasis.]] His initial problem with Megatron was he got them stranded on the [[spoiler:incorrectly assumed]] wrong planet and Megatron's cowardice in the face of a challenge to honorable combat when called out on his incompetence. Later, when Megatron is proven right, Dinobot temporarily switches sides back to Megatron until Megatron proves to be the liar once again. Through out his time with the Maximals, Dinobot makes no secret that he still views himself as a Predicon and will return to them once they get back to Cybertron.

* The Business Plot, a reported conspiracy that intended to overthrow the American government in 1933 and install a fascist dictatorship, supposedly fell victim to this when the conspirators chose Marine Major General [[EmbarrassingFirstName Smedley]] Darlington Butler to lead the coup. Butler instead chose to reveal the plot to the government, which fairly quickly brought an end to the conspiracy. They probably picked him because he was the commanding officer of the force that was ordered to crack down on the Bonus Army, a group of impoverished UsefulNotes/WW1 veterans who were rendered homeless and jobless by the Great Depression, camped out on the National Mall in Washington, DC to request that the government pay them their support bonuses a bit earlier than initially agreed to, citing the hardship of the Great Depression as the reason they needed help more immediately. The particularly ''brutal'' crackdown against the bonus army was cited as a major factor sealing the fate of Herbert Hoover's reputation, but was part of what '''endeared''' Hoover to the conspirators of the Business Plot. They probably figured since Butler led that crackdown, he would be a natural choice for their plans. Fortunately for the nation, they figured wrongly. Then again, maybe Butler was just smart enough to realize he wouldn't get away with it. Everyone already knows that TheButlerDidIt. Of course, the idea also had the rather serious flaw that Butler was an outspoken critic of fascism who had actively campaigned for the president they expected him to overthrow.

* In ''Literature/AudreyWait'', the protagonist uses her national, live TV interview as a chance to spill the beans on everything leading up to this point, thus dispelling the gossip and rumours surrounding her (and helping out her friend Evan in the process by exposing their duplicitous label — on '''live television''').
* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', the nobleman Haverness is known for his honesty. He's the last one who would be told about a revolution against the king, as he takes his oaths so seriously that he'd be sure to betray all the plans immediately. However, the king is stupid enough to not take into account that he himself has accepted responsibility for the protection of the nobles who have sworn allegiance to him. And Haverness' loyalty is not only to the king, but also to the people under ''his'' protection. [[spoiler:A revolution takes place, with the justification of ScrewTheRulesTheyBrokeThemFirst]]

* In ''The Resurrection of Literature/FatherBrown'', the titular priest immediately and repeteadly denies that there was anything miraculous about his seeming resurrection from the dead. It later turns out that [[spoiler: his mock death and resurrection had been arranged by his enemies, who were planning to later denounce him as a fraud. They couldn't imagine that Father Brown would be too honest and humble to claim a miracle for his God and Church.]]

* [[TheHero Shinji Kido]] of ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'' fits this trope to a T. The other riders consider him somewhat of a WildCard [[spoiler:( an outlook mostly enforced in the TV special - 13 Riders, where they gang up on him]], because his fumbling is threatening the status quo. He is also a SpannerInTheWorks of nearly cosmic degree.

** Earlier in ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', Dinobot has no problem with Megatron's plan of [[spoiler: going to prehistoric earth to kill the original Optimus Prime while he was in his 4 million year stasis.]] His initial problem with Megatron was he got them stranded on the [[spoiler: incorrectly assumed]] wrong planet and Megatron's cowardice in the face of a challenge to honorable combat when called out on his incompetence. Later, when Megatron is proven right, Dinobot temporarily switches sides back to Megatron until Megatron proves to be the liar once again. Through out his time with the Maximals, Dinobot makes no secret that he still views himself as a Predicon and will return to them once they get back to Cybertron.
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': In Mabel's story in "Bottomelss Pit!", she tricks Grunkle Stan into wearing a set of magic dentures that [[TruthSerums force him to always tell the truth]]. Things quickly take a turn for the worst as Stan blurts out every truth that comes to his head, and nearly confesses his many crimes to the police.

* The Business Plot, a reported conspiracy that intended to overthrow the American government in 1933 and install a fascist dictatorship, supposedly fell victim to this when the conspirators chose Marine Major General [[EmbarrassingFirstName Smedley]] Darlington Butler to lead the coup. Butler instead chose to reveal the plot to the government, which fairly quickly brought an end to the conspiracy. They probably picked him because he was the commanding officer of the force that was ordered to crack down on the Bonus Army, a group of impoverished UsefulNotes/WW1 veterans who were rendered homeless and jobless by the Great Depression, camped out on the National Mall in Washington, DC to request that the government pay them their support bonuses a bit earlier than initially agreed to, citing the hardship of the Great Depression as the reason they needed help more immediately. The particularly ''brutal'' crackdown against the bonus army was cited as a major factor sealing the fate of Herbert Hoover's reputation, but was part of what '''endeared''' Hoover to the conspirators of the Business Plot. They probably figured since Butler led that crackdown, he would be a natural choice for their plans. Fortunately for the nation, they figured wrongly. Then again, maybe Butler was just smart enough to realize he wouldn't get away with it. Everyone [[IncrediblyLamePun already knows]] that TheButlerDidIt. Of course, the idea also had the rather serious flaw that Butler was an outspoken critic of fascism who had actively campaigned for the president they expected him to overthrow.

* Carrot from the Literature/{{Discworld}} Watch novels frequently triumphs because he is so honest and straightforward that the scheming, backstabbing people of Ankh-Morpork don't know how to deal with him. (Being strong enough to knock out a troll in a bar fight helps too...) Later on he acquires a good dose of cunning but [[ObfuscatingStupidity maintains the image]] and scrupulous honesty - in ''Discworld/MenAtArms'' he's trying to get some information out of a Guild leader, and tells him, with a very serious air, that if the guildmaster doesn't do what he wants, he will, unfortunately and very much against his will, be forced to "carry out the order I was given just before entering." Said order? To leave quietly if the guildmaster refused to help. However, the guildmaster assumes it to be more along the lines of "break a few arms" and, in a panic, relents.
** Cohen the Barbarian. Not because of his own honesty, but because he assumes everyone else is just as honest as he is. Thus in ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'', when a soldier says, "I would rather die than betray my emperor", Cohen kills him. It doesn't take long for people to stop saying this unless they mean it.
** Sam Vimes, (Carrot's superior) also gets treated like this on some occasions. Notably, the city's MagnificentBastard lord, Vetinari, has said that someone [[TheLastDJ who is too honest to play the game makes those who are playing (like the city's nobility) nervous]], and Vetinari finds that to be quite useful. Also, when Vimes goes back in time in Discworld/NightWatch, Vetinari's aunt makes a similar observation.
** [[IntrepidReporter William de Worde]] in ''Discworld/TheTruth'' not only WillNotTellALie himself (it was almost literally beaten into him) but is scrupulously dedicated to the truth and to making sure everyone gets the chance to hear it. Even when [[WorstNewsJudgmentEver they're more interested in stupid stories]]. This makes him a dangerous monkey wrench in the works of the latest plan to unseat Vetinari, because he doesn't gloss over what happened and take the visible facts to be the truth, he goes looking for ''the actual truth''. And he's fond of using ExactWords to persuade people of things without actually lying.