Answer:
It means the man would rather be lied to then be told the truth because the truth is bad or it would just hurt to much.
EXAMPLE: My papa died so if somebody we’re to come up and tell me i have very bad news for you it is about you grandpa i would be so worried I would not want to know the truth so i would say no tell me 100 lies but if he told me the one truth that does not wish to be known that would make me sad
So to sum up everything if you need to tell someone the truth but it does not wish to be known say something else
