People are different, and the way they are raised and which circumstances they face affect how they act toward each other. Besides, the set of moral values and principles they are equipped with (by parents and life teachers) determines how they judge the reasonability and morality of their actions. To lie or not to lie, to deceive or not to deceive for one’s personal gain is the decision people make based on their inner paradigm of what’s acceptable or not.
But what to do if the principle of honesty seems quite elusive? Modern society is obsessed with self-interest and egoism, so it’s often hard to find one’s way and navigate in the turbulent ocean of flexible moral values. The write essays for cash experts have been researching the subject broadly and have come up with a brief guide on honesty, its importance, and famous quotes illustrating the power of honesty in the world.
Why Does Honesty Matter?
In a nutshell, honesty means being authentic and not manipulating the facts for self-gain or self-persuasion. Honest people look into the face of facts and don’t try to twist them so that the reality looks more appealing or favorable. They also prefer bitter truth to sweet lies in the hopes of remaining appealing to people they are interested in. Honest people may seem too bold for some, but they are the best life companions, never letting their friends and relatives down.
Being honest has been the critical aspect of a person’s character since times immemorial, as honest people are trustworthy and reliable. Honesty in relationships has always contributed to trust and sustainability, while honesty in a friendship is a precious gift of mutual support and sincerity. Parents should also be honest with their children when teaching them essential life lessons and truths; otherwise, children may grow up in delusions and dreams, bitterly disenchanted in the world as soon as they face reality.
Inspiring Quotes Showcasing the Importance of Honesty
Now that we know the essence and importance of honesty for all life situations, let’s take a look at how wise and famous people have spoken about this human quality. These quotes will probably disclose some additional aspects of honesty as a human trait, encouraging the readers to become more honest toward themselves and the people surrounding them.
“Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from turning into a failure.”
– James Altucher
This quote by James Altucher serves as a clear illustration of how most of the lies emerge. People who make mistakes are afraid to admit them, wishing to remain ideal in the eyes of the surrounding society. Thus, they make up lies to conceal their errors, resulting in a much grander failure if the lie is exposed. Altucher tries to pay the readers’ attention to the fact that no matter the scale of an error, it can remain an error, not a complete failure and disappointment if you find the inner resource to admit that error instead of mounting lies upon it.
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the USA, was deeply right and insightful when speaking about honesty as the basis for wisdom. People who deceive others and themselves cannot comprehend the truth of life in its wholeness. Thus, they rarely develop genuine wisdom in their hearts and minds, remaining in the narrow circle of self-deceiving lies. Those who can face the truth and embrace it through honesty have a much wiser mindset as they operate the facts.
“It’s discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.”
– Noel Coward
This quote by Noel Coward exposes the degrading value of honesty in the modern society. People are too used to manipulating facts for the sake of looking better than they are. As a result, honesty becomes an unwelcome guest in most social interactions, even in sincere and committed relationships. This observation is sad but true, pointing to the need to revive the value of honesty and revisit the fundamental values about which people forgot.
“Don’t expect loyalty when you can’t provide honesty.”
– Trent Shelton
The present expression is a vivid illustration of the way strong human relationships are built. People tend to trust those who are honest with them, thus entering more committed and long-lasting relationships with them. Those who don’t feel honesty rarely stay for long with one person, one business partner, or another counterpart in any endeavor.
“Honesty has a power that very few people can handle.”
– Steven Aitchison
This quote proves that being honest requires a specific strength of character, an inner force that helps you withstand the disapproval from people facing your honesty. To lie is much easier as it helps you manipulate the facts the way your counterpart wants to see them; honesty demands that you present the truth as it is, no matter how bitter or inconvenient it seems.
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