by all that the coward fears. - Octavia E. Butler

Yes," he said, "intelligence does enable you to deny facts you dislike. But your denial doesn't matter. A cancer growing in someone's body will go on growing in spite of denial. And a complex combination of genes that work together to make you intelligent as well as hierarchical will still handicap you whether you acknowledge it or not.

What we hear others say.

I'll tell you," she said softly. "But you won't like it."
He looked away from her. "I asked for the truth. Whether I like it or not, I have to know.