Franklin advises people to be truthful with professionals whose judgement depends on the information they receive. A doctor cannot assess a patient accurately if important symptoms, habits or circumstances are concealed or distorted. Likewise, a lawyer may give poor advice or prepare an ineffective case if the client provides an incomplete or misleading account.

The saying is therefore less about honesty as an abstract virtue than about its practical consequences. Misleading an adviser can ultimately harm the person seeking help because professional expertise cannot compensate for false or missing information. Franklin groups doctors and lawyers together because both must understand the relevant facts before they can act effectively. The broader lesson is that candour is especially important when another person is being relied upon for specialised judgement. Withholding uncomfortable information may seem protective in the moment, but it can undermine the quality of the advice received.