Quotes about Honesty

she considered a language that could carry nothing but love and simple truth.

Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer.

We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions

It is character that communicates most eloquently...In the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.

The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are. And if our words and our actions come from superficial human relations techniques (the Personality Ethic) rather than from our own inner core (the Character Ethic), others will sense that duplicity.

The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are.

If you don't let a teacher know at what level you are—by asking a question, or revealing your ignorance—you will not learn or grow. You cannot pretend for long, for you will eventually be found out. Admission of ignorance is often the first step in our education. Thoreau taught, "How can we remember our ignorance, which our growth requires, when we are using our knowledge all the time?

To be trusted, it is said, is greater than to be loved. In the long run, I am convinced, to be trusted will be also to be loved.

Keeping a commitment or a promise is a major deposit; breaking one is a major withdrawal. In fact, there's probably not a more massive withdrawal than to make a promise that's important to someone and then not to come through. The next time a promise is made, they won't believe it. People tend to build their hopes around promises, particularly promises about their basic livelihood.

Integrity is walk our talk.

We can "pose" and "put on" for a stranger or an associate. We can pretend. And for a while we can get by with it—at least in public. We might even deceive ourselves. Yet I believe that most of us know the truth of what we really are inside; and I think many of those we live with and work with do as well.

Integrity includes but goes beyond honesty. Honesty is telling the truth—in other words, conforming our words to reality. Integrity is conforming reality to our words—in other words, keeping promises and fulfilling expectations.