Honesty is a value. Being honest is the act of being transparent when dealing with people. This alone can earn people's trust. One thing about trust is that it is difficult to earn but very easy to break. Honesty is one of those virtues that can both earn and sustain people's trust. I won't really say that being honest will make everything go smoothly. Sometimes, being honest can cost us opportunities, relationships, and even comfort, but it still preserves something within us. At that moment when the truth needs to be said, it may feel like we are overlooking familiarity or personal feelings just to say what is right. The person may not appreciate it immediately, but later, we may appreciate ourselves for having the courage to tell the truth.
Constantly being honest creates a standard around a person. People begin to respect such a person because they know that he or she will say what is right, regardless of who they are addressing.
In The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene says, “Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim.” This simply means that a well-timed act of honesty can lower people's defences and make them more trusting of you. Here, honesty can be presented as a strategic tool.
Think of a servant trying to gain the trust and favour of a master. Even if honesty is not part of the servant's moral principles, constantly being honest can make the master trust
him. Eventually, that trust may win the master's affection. In this case, honesty is being used strategically to achieve a desired outcome.
This shows that honesty can be both a moral principle and a strategy.
But I believe it is better for honesty to become a part of who we are rather than something we use simply to win people's trust. If honesty is only a strategy, then even when someone's trust is won, it may not last because the foundation was never genuine.
Saying the truth at all times can be difficult. Sometimes, the truth may cost us something we deeply value. But sincerely, I believe it is worth it. We should learn to be courageous enough to tell the truth, even when it is uncomfortable.
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