It is this sort of painful honesty that makes "Father/Land" such an absorbing work.

"Everyone has a line they won't cross," said Brett, looking at her with such painful honesty that for a moment she hardly recognized him.

Ethan's eyes dropped away briefly, then he looked at her squarely and answered with painful honesty.

His need to honor his heritage while so doing is reported with painful honesty.

Of course, she thought with painful honesty, that information probably wouldn't have changed much of anything.

But robots were strongly disposed toward an almost painful honesty.

Because, she reflected with painful honesty, despite what she'd just told herself, she had not, on any level, actually seen through him.

'You've taken away all my calm assurance,' she burst out with painful honesty.

Not yet, at least , he added to himself with painful honesty.

"Oh I wouldn't be stupid enough to try that," she said with painful honesty.