The honesty it is a behavior that conforms to the values of truth and justice. It can also be understood as respect for the truth and the rights of others. To be honest is to be sincere, frank, not to have ulterior motives in dealing with other people; not take advantage of the possible weaknesses or situations of inferiority of other individuals. For instance: recognize if we have made a mistake, return found objects, do not get on the train without paying the ticket.
The quality of honesty is nurtured by the teachings of our elders, which we receive at home from a young age, but also from everyday example: that is why it is essential that society as a whole assumes the importance of honesty as a value.
When we read news that a taxi driver found a briefcase with money in his car and returned it to its owner, we are participating in a act of honesty, highly commendable and to be imitated. But the fact that this is news tells us that it is not common; hence, honesty seems to be the exception rather than the norm.
Examples of honesty
- If a product is sold at a lower price than normal because it has a fault, tell the buyer.
- If we are witnesses of a robbery or accident, show things to the police or the judge as we saw them.
- Keep citizens informed with the truth (leaders and journalists).
- If someone makes a mistake when giving us a change, let them know and not keep that money, which does not correspond to us.
- Do not cheat on an exam, or help another classmate to do it.
- Do not lie in the information provided on a resume.
- Acknowledge it if we have made a mistake.
- Differentiate and explicitly recognize the merits of others, especially if they could seem ours.
- Pay in time and form the obligations contracted.
- Do not get on the train without paying a ticket.
- Do not steal electrical energy on public roads.
- Do not accept jobs that we will not be able to fulfill, due to lack of time or capacity.
- Report if a means of public transport is not fit to be used and may become a serious danger for users (drivers, technical personnel).
- Close the premises that do not have the conditions of security with respect to fires (inspectors).
- Do not prescribe remedies or studies that the person does not need (doctors).
- Make the person who is about to sign a contract read the fine print.
- Tell a patient about the risks they are running before undergoing surgery.
- Return found objects.
- Notify if someone has us for a task and we know in advance that we will not be able to assume it.
- Don’t buy illegal movies or video games.
Honest people
Being honest implies act righteously, do not lie, do not take what does not belong to us, do not assume commitments that we will not be able to fulfill, do not generate vain expectations in the other, in short, act in the way we would like others to act with us or of our dearest ones.
Proceeding honestly is one personal decision and it is incorporated into the way of life of each one; It is an unwritten but permanent code that is always present in our behavior.
The value of honesty is essential for it to exist trust and harmony among human beings, and includes a coherent way of living between what is thought or said and what is finally done.
Assume one’s own mistakes and make sure that third parties are not blamed for them, do not join in gossip or criticism from other people, be discreet and capable of keeping some issues in reserve, being transparent in handling money that is not one’s own, being responsible and not becoming an accomplice of other people’s shortcomings that are clear to our eyes is a fundamental part of honesty.
Unfortunately, impunity against crime works to the detriment of honesty; the exaltation of the “liveliness” and the success of the “rogues” who achieve things with little effort, and the little encouragement that those who defend their principles and convictions receive despite the difficulties that this may mean for them.