qiǎo zhà bù rú zhuō chéng
the unvarnished truth is better than a cunning ruse (idiom)
honesty is the best policy
巧
qiǎo
opportunely
诈
zhà
to cheat
不
bù
no; not so
如
rú
as
拙
zhuō
awkward
诚
chéng
(bound form) sincere; authentic