'Life's Lessons' - question

Yeah. If he told her she was lousy she would have left him. Lionel probably didn't want to "control" women in his mind. But he approached relationships like a teenage boy. He was all about drama. That's how he got his work done. So what was he going to do if Paulette left him? Lionel probably was really convinced he loved Paulette. But she was 22 and she was more mature than he was. Lionel had been doing this to women for years and he would continue. He was lucky to be a genius. But he wasn't deep and he wasn't kind.

He didn't want to tell her he sucked, partly out of sensitivity, but mostly because she then would've left, and he felt he needed her around.

Notably, if he had REALLY loved her, he would've been honest with her about her lack of talent. Especially once it was clear she no longer loved him, and only needed his honesty.

Only when talking to her about her art was he able to be honest, and not lie.

Don't lend your hand to raise no flag atop no ship of fools.