Truth is such a rare thing, it is delightful to tell it.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
On this mounting the scaffold to be beheaded: “I pray you Master Lieutenant, see me safely up, and for my coming down, let me shift for myself.” To the executioner: “Pick up thy spirits, Man, and be not afraid to do thy office; my neck is very short; take heed, therefore thou strike not awry, for saving of thy honesty.”
—Unknown
The most dangerous untruths are truths moderately distorted.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
He that jokes confesses.
—Italian Proverb
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The truth brings with it a great measure of absolution, always.
—R. D. Laing (1927–89) Scottish Psychiatrist
The truth is the only thing worth having, and, in a civilized life, like ours, where so many risks are removed, facing it is almost the only courageous thing left to do.
—E. V. Lucas (1868–1938) English Author, Historian
Hope of ill gain is the beginning of loss.
—Democritus (c.460–c.370 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
We need not be afraid to touch, to feel, to show emotion. The easiest thing in the world is to be what you are, what you feel. The hardest thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don’t let them put you in that position.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
There is no well-defined boundary between honesty and dishonesty. The frontiers of one blend with the outside limits of the other, and he who attempts to tread this dangerous ground may be sometimes in one domain and sometimes in the other.
—O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) (1862–1910) American Writer of Short Stories
If we put the emphasis upon the right things, if we live the life that is worth while and then fail, we will survive all disasters, we will out-live all misfortune. We should be so well balanced and symmetrical, that nothing which could ever happen could throw us off our center, so that no matter what misfortune should overtake us, there would still be a whole magnificent man or woman left after being stripped of everything else.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Put a rogue in the lime-light and he will act like an honest man.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Where is the man who has the strength to be true, and to show himself as he is?
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
To many a man, and sometimes to a youth, there comes the opportunity to choose between honorable competence and tainted wealth. The young man who starts out to be poor and honorable, holds in his hand one of the strongest elements of success.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
To make your children capable of honesty is the beginning of education.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
There is no refuge from confession but suicide; and suicide is confession.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
Honesty prospers in every condition of life.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
There is no right way to do something wrong.
—Indian Proverb
There are two great forces in this world—good and evil; and no man is worth his salt unless he has lost and won battle for a principle.
—A. P. Gouthey
A grain of honesty and native worth is of more value than all the adventitious ornaments, estates, or preferments, for the sake of which some of the better sort so oft turn knaves.
—Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–83) British Statesman
Most of us are honest all the time, and all of us are honest most of the time.
—Charles Mathias (1922–2010) American Politician, Attorney
Always tell the truth. If you can’t always tell the truth, don’t lie.
—Unknown
Honesty is the best image.
—Tom Wilson (1931–2011) American Cartoonist
Some so speak in exaggerations and superlatives that we need to make a large discount from their statements before we can come at their real meaning.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Often the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
When the thief has no opportunity to steal he considers himself an honest man.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat