IS HONESTY THE BEST POLICY??

         We teach our children that honesty is the best policy. But, what is honesty? Not telling lies? or, Always speaking the truth? Is not speaking the truth same as telling a lie? They say silence is golden. So, if someone chooses to keep quite and not tell the truth, will that tantamount to telling a lie? There is no standardised answer to this query. What about a lie that doesn't harm anyone but helps someone? Or a truth that doesn't help anyone but harms someone? Well, these arguments won't stand scrutiny in court of law so let them be just points to ponder. In our daily life we do come across situations where we need to moderate the truths and the lies. Let us say, a child is weak in studies. The teacher or parents tell him or her that he or she can excel in the exams by working hard even though they know that it's beyond the child's potential. Why do they say so? To encourage the child? So, is encouraging a child also telling a lie? I hope not. There is a terminally ill patient. He knows it, his family knows it, the doctor knows it but still everyone tells him that he will get well soon. Is that telling a lie? Technically yes, but morally no. It gives that hope to the patient to cling on to without giving up. There can be any number of examples to this paradox.

         This brings us to the issue of honesty. Honesty is not simply about telling a lie or telling the truth. It is about our overall approach to an issue and our conduct. It is about not being two faced. It is about not cheating. It is about not misguiding someone to his or her loss. Honesty is about our own morals and character. An honest person may hide a fact so that knowledge of it doesn't hurt someone. A dishonest person will hide a fact to make sure that it causes harm to someone else or it benefits him. These are two different things. Again this line of thought is vulnerable to criticism. But then that's what it is. One man's poison is another man's cure.

           Nowadays we use different words to cover up our lies or dishonesty. What about "Being Diplomatic"? Or "Being Politically Correct"? There are innumerable phrases coined to cover up what essentially is telling a lie or hiding the truth. At the end of the day, it is our inner self that needs to be asked whether our conduct was correct or incorrect. There can not be a better judge than our conscience.