Honesty is something so simple to understand, yet its application is widely debated.
A simple Google search will yield hundreds of definitions, all of which describe the virtue as the absence of deceit. Benjamin Franklin famously coined the phrase, “Honesty is the best policy,” which he used to convey how it is better to speak the truth and be trusted than to tell lies and be known as deceptive.
Although one of our founding fathers clearly agrees with the sentiment, is honesty always the best policy? An article published by Minimalism Made Simple gave 11 reasons as to why honesty is in fact superior to dishonesty. One reason that resonated most with me is that honesty is simple and uncomplicated, making life easier.
I don’t see a better way of framing the advantages of honesty. Most of us can agree that it is easier to tell the truth than keep up with a lie.
From the same article, one section reads, “Dishonesty causes stress and frustration, instead of making things much simpler and telling the truth.”
While it may be convenient to put up a mask, honesty forces you to project your authentic self in front of others. Ultimately, your authentic self and character is much more impressive than any made up lie.
Moreover, honesty directly impacts your reputation, as those around you will come to know your character and values. In other words, it’s foundational whereas dishonesty destroys reputations and relationships. People will begin to question everything from the situation at hand to your reliability.
Nonetheless, others disagree. Nicole Clark, a sophomore social work student, does not believe honesty is always the best policy. She explained, “Sometimes the truth hurts. It’s always good to be honest, but if you know that it will cause the situation more trouble, then I think it’s not best to tell the truth right there and then.” She feels one’s level of honesty should reflect the situation at hand.
“If it was a serious situation, like a death, or if it’s affecting someone’s personal life, then yes, tell the truth and be honest,” continued Clark. This is something I can understand as there is a time and place for everything.
Honesty, while definitely important, can mean different things to different people.