Quotes About Honesty

Nothing can be beautiful which is not true.

To speak and act truth with constancy and precision is nearly as difficult, and perhaps as meretorious, as to speak it under intimidation or penalty

No lying knight or lying priest ever prospered in any age, but especially not in the dark ones. Men prospered then only in following an openly declared purpose, and preaching candidly beloved and trusted creeds.

I am not so afraid that I cannot see the truth.

When I told my father I wasn't going to be a minister of any kind, he said that I should never take cover in life, that I should stand out in the wind. Feel it. I'm trying to do that.

a few more facts out into the open.

Sorensen asked, "And you believe all of them?" "I don't really believe any of them," Lucas said. "I can't afford to—but I think all but one are telling the truth. I just don't know who that one is.

Lies do not in themselves lead to poor outcomes, nor does truth in every circumstance lead to good ones. As with so many things, context matters.

Again I ask permission to be blunt." "Ambassador Abumwe, at this point I cannot imagine you being otherwise.

General Gau had thanked for her candor in this as in all other things and then went ahead and did it anyway.

Hickory, have you ever lied to me?" I asked. "I do not believe you are aware of me or any Obin ever lying to you," Hickory said.

But there are deals, and there are promises. A deal you can make with anyone. A promise is something you make with someone you trust.

People will eat cheeseburgers, but very few people will eat crap. Don't serve up crap.

I thought I asked to dispense with bullshit." "There's bullshit and then there's bullshit, Lady Kiva." "Well, you're right about that, at least.

Your pinky promises sit on a throne of lies," Tony said.

However, one always led with being nonbribable. It gave those attempting to bribe a sense of accomplishment.

turn off the bullshit for the moment, Jack. Turn off that lawyer brain of yours and the thinking three steps ahead and the self-absorption and that overriding love of money you have, and answer me seriously and honestly.

An unbelieved truth can hurt a man much more than a lie. It takes great courage to back truth unacceptable to our times. There's a punishment for it, and it's usually crucifixion.

Can you honestly love a dishonest thing?

We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat.

Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the slow, eating agony of a lie is never lost.

To a man born without conscience, a soul-stricken man must seem ridiculous. To a criminal, honesty is foolish. You must not forget that a monster is only a variation, and that to a monster the norm is monstrous.

Maybe the hardest thing in writing is simply to tell the truth about things as we see them.

If you want to keep a friend, never test him.