Being Honest and Telling the Truth at All Times is the Right Thing to Do
Since we were small we were taught that honesty is the best policy. Some of the questions that suffice from telling the truth are; is it right to lie if lying will bring better consequences? What happens to the liar when he or she gets accustomed to lying? Is it right to tell white lies or tell lies when under serious threat? Is it right to lie to those with no right to know the truth? While answering the above questions this paper will also be showing the course why telling the truth at all times is the right thing to do.
Being honest sounds a simple thing to do but practically it is a hard thing to accomplish. The following story is a proof enough that telling the truth is not only a challenging task but the liar may also end up hurting other people's feelings. I remember when I was small sometimes I would arrive at school late having been diverted by the splendid game of marbles. By the time in walked into the classroom the class teacher would be so fraught that I was forced to lie. To avoid being punished I would come up with colorful stories of how I dropped something and I had to go back home and fetch it. Every time the teacher asked me why I was late I had to come up with a flimsy reason to avoid being punished or being taken to the headmaster.
At last my class teacher grew tired of my lies and he took me to the headmaster. I recounted to him of how I had to help an old woman along the way. When my mum came to collect me in the evening she was hauled into the headmaster office. I was also called upon to recount the story of how I helped the old woman. After narrating the story the headmaster made me to apologize to all those present. My mother was angry with me for lying to adults and when we arrived home she gave me a thorough lecture on the importance of telling the truth and being honest. When I arrived at school the following morning the headmaster called me and asked me what my mother said about the previous day's events. Determined to tell the truth I replied, "She thinks you're an interfering, old busybody." When my mother came collect me that evening we were both called to the headmasters office. The headmaster asked my mother whether she abused her by calling her an old busybody but my mother vehemently denied of having done so. On arriving at home that evening I was punished by my mother for telling the truth.
I believe that being honest starts from small things. It is also important to note that most people learnt to be dishonest from a tender age. Sometimes a child is forced to lie in order to be praised or avoid being punished. As one grows, these processes become entrenched in our minds. For instance, when a friend asks you whether there is something wrong with you, you are quick to reply that "am fine" when you are not. Sometimes we are also forced to lie when we want to shift blame to others, to avoid embarrassing situations, to minimize conflict or to avoid a responsibility.
Being honest sounds a simple thing to do but practically it is a hard thing to accomplish. The following story is a proof enough that telling the truth is not only a challenging task but the liar may also end up hurting other people's feelings. I remember when I was small sometimes I would arrive at school late having been diverted by the splendid game of marbles. By the time in walked into the classroom the class teacher would be so fraught that I was forced to lie. To avoid being punished I would come up with colorful stories of how I dropped something and I had to go back home and fetch it. Every time the teacher asked me why I was late I had to come up with a flimsy reason to avoid being punished or being taken to the headmaster.
At last my class teacher grew tired of my lies and he took me to the headmaster. I recounted to him of how I had to help an old woman along the way. When my mum came to collect me in the evening she was hauled into the headmaster office. I was also called upon to recount the story of how I helped the old woman. After narrating the story the headmaster made me to apologize to all those present. My mother was angry with me for lying to adults and when we arrived home she gave me a thorough lecture on the importance of telling the truth and being honest. When I arrived at school the following morning the headmaster called me and asked me what my mother said about the previous day's events. Determined to tell the truth I replied, "She thinks you're an interfering, old busybody." When my mother came collect me that evening we were both called to the headmasters office. The headmaster asked my mother whether she abused her by calling her an old busybody but my mother vehemently denied of having done so. On arriving at home that evening I was punished by my mother for telling the truth.
I believe that being honest starts from small things. It is also important to note that most people learnt to be dishonest from a tender age. Sometimes a child is forced to lie in order to be praised or avoid being punished. As one grows, these processes become entrenched in our minds. For instance, when a friend asks you whether there is something wrong with you, you are quick to reply that "am fine" when you are not. Sometimes we are also forced to lie when we want to shift blame to others, to avoid embarrassing situations, to minimize conflict or to avoid a responsibility.
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