“Respect for the truth is an acquired taste.”

It can be. A "respect", most politicians have not yet acquired.

Monumental steps have and are being taken to acknowledge the whole truth, under the current administration, President Trump at the helm. Most cannot handle the "truth" it cuts all, down to size. 
Honesty to stand with thee, charity ( humility ) to walk with thee. Once the taste having been acquired, your Helper becomes more obvious. Ever present is that which is not seen. 

It was ordained that it be as natural for an individual to respect, actually to love, the Truth as it is for him or her to draw breath.

But then, doing that which ought to naturally be done has become, in this almost limitlessly lightless day, the unnatural thing to do.

Because fiction is more popular and profitable.  The truth is free and abundant (everywhere) thus, from a marketing stand-point, of little commercial value.  Only now in a sea of untruth is truth scarce, and a tremendous threat to the racket.  A lie exposed has no more power or appeal. I suppose the quote is most true in colleges and universities.

If you tell the truth, about half the people will actually believe you.