Quotes About Honesty

Among the calamities of war, may be justly numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and credulity encourages.

Don't attitudenize.

In lapidary inscriptions a man is not upon oath.

In order that all men may be taught to speak the truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.

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

Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess, and to gain applause which he cannot keep.

He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.

There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.

There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

To keep your secret is wisdom, but to expect others to keep it is folly.

My dear friend, clear your mind of cant [excessive thought]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, "Sir, I am your most humble servant." You are not his most humble servant. You may say, "These are bad times; it is a melancholy thing to be reserved to such times." You don't mind the times ... You may talk in this manner; it is a mode of talking in Society; but don't think foolishly.

A good honest and painful sermon.

for I was in hopes to have had a bout with her before she had gone, she being very pretty. I had also a mind to my own wench, but I dare not for fear she should prove honest and refuse and then tell my wife.

But aren't journals such as this basically occasions for candid assessments? No. They're not. They're for telling oneself the fictions that are as honest as you can make them and still keep your life bearable.

Tell me this. Are you all that happy? Be honest now." ..."I think... there's something wrong with your question, you know? I spend a lot of time happy; Inspend a lot of time unhappy; I spend a lot of time just bored. Maybe if I worked real hard at it, I could avoid some of the happiness, but I doubt it. The other two I know I'm stuck with...

Calamity is the test of integrity.

He who begins by loving Christianity better than truth will proceed by loving his own sect or church better than Christianity, and end in loving himself better than all.

Baroness…of all the lies you've told, surely this is the one your should be most ashamed of.

That disturbs people when they know they didn't have the guts or integrity to stick to their dreams.

You do not tell a woman you love her and then shimmy off up into the air.

Betrayal annihilates trust. The more trust there is to begin with, and the more deception is involved, the more damage is done.

Letting someone believe something that is not true produces the same result as saying something false: It is the passive version of lying.