Quotes About Honesty

No man is a hypocrite in his pleasures.

Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he doesn't possess.

The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. It is true, that no diligence can ascertain success; death may intercept the swiftest career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.

If he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.

It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentional lying, that there is so much falsehood in the world.

APERT  (APE'RT)   adj.[apertus, Lat.]Open.

ADRY  (ADRY')   adv.[from a and dry.]Athirst; thirsty; in want of drink. He never told any of them, that he was his humble servant, but his well-wisher; and would rather be thought a malecontent, than drink the king's health when he was not adry.Spect.

I was not born for courts or great affairs;I pay my debts, believe, and say my prayers.Pope.

It has been confidently related, with many embellishments, that Johnson one day knocked Osborne down in his shop, with a folio, and put his foot upon his neck. The simple truth I had from Johnson himself. 'Sir, he was impertinent to me, and I beat him. But it was not in his shop: it was in my own chamber.' A

Methinks, though a man had all science, and all principles, yet it might not be amiss to have some conscience.Tillots.Pref.5. Wrong;

The world cannot reward those qualities which are concealed from it

It has always been the practice of mankind to judge of actions by the event. The same attempts, conducted in the same manner, but terminated by different success, produce different judgments: they who attain their wishes never want celebrators of their wisdom and their virtue; and they that miscarry are quickly discovered to have been defective not only in mental but in moral qualities. [...] he that fails in his endeavours after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.

Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it.

Truth is truth, my dear!

God send me a friend, that may tell me of my faults: if not, an enemy, and he will.

to discover day in an artful woman's heart. Nothing can be weaker, in the eye of an observer, who himself disdains artifice, than a woman who makes artifice her study. In such a departure from honest nature, there will be such curvings, that the eyes, the countenance, must ever betray the heart; while the lips, either breaking out into apologies, or aiming at reserve, confirm the suspicion, that all is not right in the mind.

And is it a crime to acknowlege, that they are so well disposed to a worthy object? A worthy object, I repeat; for that is what will warrant the open heart. What a littleness is there in the custom that compels us to be insincere? And suppose we do not succeed with a first object, shall we cheat a future Lover with the notion that he was the first?

And this is LOVE, is it? that puts an honest girl upon approving of such tricks? — Begone, Love! I  banish thee if thou wouldst corrupt the simplicity of that heart, which was taught to glory in truth.

Truthfulness is at the foundation of all personal excellence.

Simple honesty of purpose in a man goes a long way in life, if founded on a just estimate of himself and a steady obedience to the rule he knows and feels to be right.

A man may be accomplished in art, literature, and science, and yet, in honesty, virtue, truthfulness, and the spirit of duty, be entitled to take rank after many a poor and illiterate peasant.

Alas; they had been friends in youth but whispering tongues can poison truth

O my brethren! I have told Most bitter truth, but without bitterness. Nor deem my zeal fractious or mistimed; For never can true courage dwell with them Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.

Whatever else you were about to say, don't. Don't look at me all calf-eyed. Don't nurse any romantic options about me just because I told you that you're pretty or related a sob story about some old horse. - Lee Coburn