People who are brutally honest get more satisfaction out of the brutality than out of the honesty.

Needham’s aphorism targets the self-justifying pose of “brutal honesty.” It suggests that some speakers invoke honesty as a moral shield while indulging in aggression: the pleasure comes less from truth-telling than from the license to wound, dominate, or display superiority. The line distinguishes candor (aimed at clarity or help) from cruelty (aimed at impact), implying that ethical honesty is compatible with tact, proportionality, and care for consequences. As a social critique, it warns listeners to examine motives behind blunt speech and to treat “I’m just being honest” as a potential rationalization for hostility rather than a guarantee of integrity.