Honesty is a question of morals. The law demands that all men shall be
honest, but the maxim says it is the “best policy” to be honest.
To succeed in business or in any affairs where others are concerned, it
behooves a man to be open and above board with every one.
The truth is, that a dishonest man is not wanted in anything where there
is responsibility, or where a loss may result through dishonesty.
If a man is honest with himself, it is probable that he will be honest
with others. In this respect, honesty is like charity: “It begins at
home, but does not end there.”
To be honest does not mean merely that a man is not to steal another
man’s money, but does mean that every man should be given his due,
whether in financial matters or in duty. The man who half does his work,
watches for the clock to hasten toward closing time, or dawdles when
haste is required, is not honest, however square he may be in money
matters.
The trouble is, we limit all our morality to money, and imagine that if
we handle money carefully and without loss to the owner, we are honest.
Even taking that broad view of the virtue, we are robbing a man when we
shirk work, do it badly, or pretend we can do a thing we can not do in a
proper manner and take his money for the doing of it.
To be honest truly, a man must be fair in everything that pertains to
his fellows. A man who will deliberately lie will cheat.
To give every man a square deal is to be honest.