Honesty is the Best Policy Essay: The practice of always advocating and speaking the truth is etched in the saying “Honesty is the best policy”. A person with a strong moral character and excellent behaviour always speaks the truth. He follows discipline and punctuality, exhibits kindness and possesses moral integrity of the highest order. Honesty is undoubtedly the best policy as it excludes bad practices of stealing, selfishness, greediness and follows a steady path of loyalty and truthfulness.
Expansion of Idea on Honesty is the Best Policy Essay
Below we have provided Honesty is the Best Policy Essay in English, suitable for class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.
Honesty is a quality that denotes truthfulness. It is an integral element of our life. Being honest is essential as it leads us to peace and glory. A man who hones this skill is considered to have a noble character. He occupies a respectful place in this society. An honest person possesses qualities like punctuality, discipline, and obedience. People trust him because he shows good behaviour and speaks the truth.
We all have heard about the saying “Honesty is the Best Policy”. This wise phrase has been used by our teachers and parents since we were children. However, people have outlived the meaning of this phrase. They have resorted to lies and dishonesty. The world is getting more inclined towards corrupt means. Somewhere down the line, this phrase has lost its meaning. Therefore, it needs to be rediscovered.
This phrase was first used by a great man named Benjamin Franklin. The literal meaning of this proverb goes like this: Stick to the truth. Being honest is way better than telling a lie. One lie leads to another, and the cycle continues. Eventually, it turns into a bad habit. No matter how good you are at lying, one day, the truth is bound to come out. Someone rightly said that honesty is the spine of a successful relationship. Once you walk on the path of dishonesty, you will break other people’s trust, and it is difficult to regain this broken trust.
Benefits of being an Honest Person
Honesty shapes our lives. It is the greatest tool we can acquire to build our character. To utilize it effectively, we need to understand its importance. Here we have mentioned a few points which tell us the benefits of incorporating honesty in our lives:
- Honesty develops moral attributes like sincerity, integrity, and kindness.
- It brings us closer to our friends and family. Honesty makes our connection with other people easier and stronger. Honesty enhances the power of our conscience. It makes us grow as individuals.
- It protects us against other people’s prejudices and boosts our confidence.
- Honesty makes our lives comfortable as it takes away our worries and anxieties.
- It makes us feel free. Honest individuals hardly ever suffer from stress and other mental issues.
- Being honest is sometimes tough, but it certainly keeps us out of trouble.
- It promotes maturity. A mature person chooses to speak the truth politely.
- Self-awareness is another benefit of honesty. It reflects our thoughts and feelings.
- Honesty gives us the ability to fight against injustice.
- Moreover, honesty makes us brave. Speaking the truth under a difficult circumstance requires a lot of courage.
Examples of Honesty is the Best Policy
The best way to explain this proverb is through a story. Below, we have listed a story which shares the same moral. They aptly describe “Honesty is the Best policy”.
Story – The Woodcutter and the Axe
There was a woodcutter who lived in a small hut. He made his income by selling wood. Daily he would go to the forest and cut trees. One fine morning, while he was on his way to work, he passed by a river. Accidentally, his axe fell into the river. Now the river was very deep. And the woodcutter did not know how to swim. He was deeply saddened by this incident. As he was poor, he did not have enough money to buy a new axe.
He was worried about his livelihood. He sat near the river, feeling dejected. Seeing his pitiful state, an angel appeared out of nowhere. The angel consoled him by saying that he would bring back his axe. The angel went inside the river and brought an axe made up of gold. He offered it to the woodcutter. However, the woodcutter refused to accept this axe. Then the angel went back inside for a second time. This time he brought back a silver axe.
The honest woodcutter still denied taking the axe. Finally, the angel brought an iron axe and asked if this was what the woodcutter wanted. Seeing his axe, the woodcutter got excited with joy. He was so thankful and received the axe that once belonged to him. Looking at the woodcutter’s reaction, the angel was very much pleased. She offered both the axes as a reward for the woodcutter’s honesty.
Conclusion
Honesty is a weapon that helps us conquer all the battles. In today’s modern world, people are deceiving each other to serve their selfish needs. They have thrown away the moral ethics and resorted to dishonesty. What they fail to realize is that in the long run, they will be alone. Their relationships will wither away because no one respects a dishonest person. Honesty is like a catalyst that strengthens our will power. We must realize its value so that we can rebuild a stronger community.