Honesty Quotes
Honesty is a virtue, demonstrating a strength of character that has long been held in high regard. YourDictionary's collection of honesty quotes shares reflections from notable people throughout history on what it means to be committed to truthfulness no matter what the consequence.
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In finding love, I think it's important to be patient. In being in a relationship, I think it's important to be honest, to communicate, to respect and trust, and to strive to give more than you take.
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More Honesty Quotes
Secrecy, censorship, dishonesty, and blocking of communication threaten all the basic needs.
abraham maslow— p. 23 (Motivation and Personality (1954))
This above all, to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
william shakespeare— William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 1 scene 3
Motivation is very important. We can show love, respect for others, and honesty in whatever we do to help humanity.
Dalai Lama— Official Twitter account
It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.
noël coward— 1941 Blithe Spirit.
He who says that there is no such thing as an honest man is himself a knave .
— George Berkeley, as quoted in Ladies Home Journal Vol. 97, No. 8 (August 1960)
No man is wise or safe, but he that is honest.
— Walter Raleigh, Advice to the Earl of Rutland on his Travels (1596)
I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.
george washington
The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.
zig ziglar— American author, salesman, and motivational speaker; founder of the Zig Ziglar Corporation
Honesty and loyalty are key. If two people can be honest with each other and everything, that's probably the biggest key to success.
Taylor lautner— Taylor Lautner Addresses Kristen Stewart's Affair with Rupert Sanders; Interview with US Magazine (Nov. 6, 2012)
Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy. Both your religion and policy must be based on it.
john ruskin— 1867 Time andTide, letter 8.
All men profess honesty as long as they can. To believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so is something worse.
john quincy adams— Letter to William Eustis (22 June 1809), published in Writings of John Quincy, Adams (1914), The Macmillan company.
Watergate left Washington a city ravaged by honesty.
russell baker— "Honestly" (p.69)
Complete honesty has nothing to do with "purity" or naivety. The full truth is unattainable to naivety, and the completely honest artist is not pure in heart.
Clement Greenberg— "Partisan Review 'Art Chronicle': 1952" (1952), p. 146
Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard, and mostly what I need from you.
Billy Joel— Honesty
Honesty is the best policy.
— Anonymous English proverb, 16th century
But if he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.
— Dr. Johnson, quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) by James Boswell July 14, 1763, p. 123
Honesty needs no disguise nor ornament; be plain.
thomas otway— Thomas Otway, The Orphan
An honest man's the noblest work of God .
Alexander Pope— Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man (1733-34), Epistle IV, line 247
"Honesty is the best policy," but he who acts on that principle is not an honest man.
— Archbishop Richard Whately, Thoughts and Apothegms, Part II, Chapter XVIII. Pious Frauds; On Some Obstacles to the Attainment of Truth, and to its Progress in the World
When rogues fall out, honest men get into their own.
— Sir Matthew Hale
The measure of life is not length, but honestie.
john lyly— John Lyly, Euphues, The Anatomy of Wit, Letters of Euphues, Euphues and Eubulus
Friends , if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other.
George MacDonald— George MacDonald, The Marquis of Lossie, Chapter LXXI
I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an "Honest Man."
george washington— George Washington, Moral Maxims
Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.
george washington— George Washington, speech to the Constitutional Convention (1787).
A sarcastic person has a superiority complex that can be cured only by the honesty of humility.
lawrence G. Lovasik
Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made.
george burns— Attributed. As quoted in The Snark Handbook: A Reference Guide to Verbal Sparring (2009), by Lawrence Dorfman.
Being honest means refusing to lie, deceive, or mislead in any way. It means admitting to your mistakes, being fair to others, and staying loyal to your friends and family. People who are honest don't strive to hurt the feelings of others, but they don't shy away from providing the truth when it's necessary. Throughout history, honesty has been viewed as a fundamental trait necessary for a successful life. Roman philosopher Cicero explains this best with the quote, "Where is there dignity unless there is also honesty?"
Honesty quotes often reflect upon how trust is the foundation of any meaningful relationship. When we doubt the motives and intentions of those around us, we're not remaining open to creating a productive dialogue. "We know that there can never be any solid friendship between individuals, or union between communities that is worth the name, unless the parties be persuaded of each other's honesty," Athenian historian and general Thucydides said.
Quotes about honesty can also reflect upon changing social standards, where people believe that truthfulness has diminished over time. This is a more cynical viewpoint, but one which is worth discussing in terms of how we view moral behavior. "America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards have vanished," American television host, journalist, and author Bill O'Reilly said.
