Article June 4, 1932 Issue

Honesty

LYMAN S. ABBOTT

There are no variable degrees of honesty. Such a statement may seem startling to one who has not given it careful consideration, but is none the less true.

Either we are honest or we are not honest with ourselves and others. It is our human concept of honesty that varies or seems to be definable by degrees. We are all in different states or stages of progress in understanding, and it is the human manifestation of honesty that varies, and not the real spiritual quality, for that is invariable; otherwise, it would not be a spiritual quality.

In our relations to others we need to cultivate the habit of genuine honesty in our thinking. The office employee who uses his employer's stationery and stamps, to say nothing of his employer's time, is not expressing complete honesty. "But that is such a small matter" and "They all do it" are but flimsy excuses with which to silence a guilty conscience. "My employer does not object," says another. True, he may not openly object; but too often he notices these "little things." "But the amount involved is so small," says another. Yes, so very small that the knowledge of absolute honesty in our thought is worth many times the actual money value of these "little things" we take. "But I put in many hours of overtime for which I am not paid," says the otherwise conscientious worker. Are you sure you are not well repaid for your loyalty and devotion?

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The Single Eye
June 4, 1932
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