“Honesty is the best policy” has been one of the best-known sayings ever. But, do you think it is true?

Unfortunately, we live in a world of promise breakers. We promise to help a friend with an assignment without being sure if we will be able to do so. Saying things that we don’t mean has now become a habit. Just as cars run on fuel, it’s sad to say that relationships are running on lies. But who cares? People have now grown so brazen-faced that they deceive others right in their faces. We have heard beautiful sayings about honesty, however, its practice has fallen short. In fact, nobody now knows what it means to be honest.

We all should understand that honesty is one of the building blocks of a moral character, and character is what establishes who we are and what we’re capable of achieving. If we’re going to lie our way through life to secure our present, there could be conflicts in the future. It’s like a cornerstone of our character.

Honesty isn’t always the simplest solution to a problem. Being truthful can often result in the wrath of others. We might fear a backlash, but we must remember that at the end, truth always triumphs.

On the other hand, dishonesty may provide us with an easy exit from a sticky situation before the lies catch up. And this could be a point where people lose their credibility, leading to broken relationships as lies offer a person brief relief.

No doubt, one lie will be followed by a hundred more. So, it’s better to be honest and speak the truth. It gives you not only peace of mind, but also boosts your reputation. A dishonest person will never be trusted by others and will have few friends. Therefore, to maintain social and economic equilibrium, we must recognise the importance of honesty.

Being honest with yourself should be the first step. You can never be honest with others without being honest with yourself.

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 23rd, 2022