Definition Essay On Honesty

907 Words4 Pages

Honesty is something I live by and try my hardest to stick to. Have I lied and do I still lie, yes. I guess it’s because I was taught a “white lie” is ok. The “white lies” are not harming anyone and sometimes white lies are told to make sure not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Parents teach us not to lie, however if we pay attention we may notice as our parents tell us not to lie, we hear them lie. Something like, the phone rings and they say if that is ___, tell them I’m busy or I’m not here, because they don’t want to talk to whoever called. As kids we lie about things because we don’t want to get into trouble. As a teenager, I’ve lied to my parents about where I was at, when I came home late or who I was hanging out with. Some people may lie …show more content…

The white lies I would tell depends on the person I’m lying to. If I have a relationship with the person, I am fully honest because they know how to take my honesty no mater what information I’m delivering. However, when I don’t know the person well, my honesty may come off harsh or interpreted wrong. Last year when I was getting quotes for my roof to get repaired, I told each company that the previous company quoted me less in order to get a better deal. When it comes to personal relationships and work, I am an open book and as honest as can be. This is not to condone my white lies because, a lie is a lie, but I guess I justify the reasons for my white lies as long as no one is …show more content…

In addition, a lie repeated many times doesn’t change the truth. “The truth doesn’t cost anything, but a lie could cost you everything.” I believe it is desirable to be truthful at all times and the best way to demonstrate this are by:
• Saying what you mean and mean what you say.
• Being honest about your personal biases or conflict of interests
• Telling people the rationale behind your decisions so that your intent is understood and correct misinterpreted information
• Never compromise your integrity and reputation by associating yourself with people whose standards of integrity go against yours Convenience is probably the number one reason why people lie; nonetheless truth shouldn’t be told only when it’s convenient. When honesty is a way of life, one cares about trust, respects others, values the relationship, cares about the importance of their reputation, and is willing to accept the consequences of their actions. “Never lie to someone who trusts you, and never trust someone who lies to you.” I have learned to be as honest as can be and people do appreciate and respect me for it. That’s why it’s critical to always tell the truth because the truth will always show itself