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The Importance of Being Honest

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Published: Sep 1, 2023

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why is it important to be honest essay

why is it important to be honest essay

An honesty box on Dartmoor, England. Photo by Loop/Getty

The virtue of honesty requires more than just telling the truth

by Christian B Miller   + BIO

Listen to this Idea.

Honesty has fallen out of fashion, yet it is essential to self-improvement. How can we cultivate this neglected virtue?

There is little controversy that honesty is a virtue. It is an excellence of character. It also promotes trust, fosters healthy relationships, strengthens organisations and societies, and prevents harm.

Sadly, though, honesty has gone missing in recent decades. It is largely absent from academic research. It seems to be rare in society. And it is not commonly found in discussions of how to become a better person.

What is honesty? How is honesty related to integrity, courage and tact? Is it always best to be honest? What are the ways of failing to be honest? These are important questions, but you will be hard pressed to find discussions of them among scholars. In my field of philosophy, for instance, outside of the work of my own team, there have been only two articles on honesty published in the past 50 years .

So what is honesty? It is a character trait that leads us to think, feel and act in honest ways. Let’s focus on the acting for a moment. Naturally, honesty stands in contrast to lying. But it is much broader in scope than that. It also is opposed to cheating, stealing, promise breaking, misleading, bullshitting, hypocrisy, self-deception, and still other forms of wrongdoing. It works against all of them, and so is extremely broad and impactful in scope.

What do all these behaviours have in common? What is at the core of honesty that enables it to cover so much moral ground? The answer, I think, is that honest behaviour is a matter of not intentionally distorting the facts as the honest person sees them.

Consider a student who lies about his grades to his parents. He is misrepresenting his academic performance on purpose to his parents. Or consider an athlete who knowingly uses a banned substance. She is mispresenting her performance as being due to her own efforts, rather than in part to the contribution of the substance.

Honest behaviour is tied to how a person sees the world, to the facts as subjectively understood. If someone genuinely believes the Earth is flat, then, when he reports that belief to a friend, he is being honest, even though the statement is false. Were he to say that the Earth is round, he would be acting dishonestly, even though the statement is true.

If the only reason why the shopkeeper doesn’t cheat his customers is that he is worried about losing business, then he is doing the right thing for the wrong reason

That’s a bit about honest behaviour. How about motivation? In order to be a virtuous person, it is not enough just to act well. One’s heart behind the action matters too. Honesty is no exception. Telling the truth, even if one is reliable in doing so, won’t be an expression of the virtue of honesty if it is done just to make a good impression on others, or to avoid getting punished, or to secure rewards in the afterlife.

Indeed, in my view, any self-interested motive isn’t going to count as a virtuous motive for honesty. The philosopher Immanuel Kant made a similar observation with his example of the shopkeeper who charges fair prices even when he has a chance to overcharge certain customers. Kant claims that if the only reason why the shopkeeper doesn’t cheat his customers is that he is worried about losing business, if he were to be found out, then this would be a case of doing the right thing for the wrong reason. The same point applies for any other self-interested reason.

What would count as a right reason for honest behaviour, then? A variety of other motives, including:

  • loving motives (eg, ‘because I care about you’)
  • justice motives (eg, ‘because it would be unfair if I cheated on the test’)
  • friendship motives (eg, ‘because he’s my friend’)
  • dutiful motives (eg, ‘because it was the right thing to do’)
  • honesty motives (eg, ‘because it would be honest’)

If someone tells the truth for any of these reasons, it is hard to fault the person’s character. But they are rather different reasons. I think we should be pluralists here, and allow any or all of these to count as what could motivate an honest person to act.

There is much more to say about the contours of this virtue. But already I have said more than most have in a long while.

Here is another way that the virtue of honesty has gone missing – it seems to be rarely possessed by people today. You might conclude this from the nightly news or from your own lived experience. But I am especially interested in what can be concluded from empirical research in psychology and behavioural economics. In a variety of different types of experiments – using die rolls, coin flips, self-graded exams, and other measures of honest behaviour – participants regularly exhibit a pattern of behaviour that does not fit with our expectations of an honest person.

For instance, in a commonly used experimental set-up for assessing cheating, participants are given a 20-problem maths test, and are told that they will be paid for every answer they get right. In a study by Lisa Shu and colleagues, this was $0.50. In the control condition, there was no opportunity to cheat, and participants scored a 7.97 out of 20. In the experimental condition, participants got to grade the test themselves and shred their materials. Given the freedom to cheat if they wanted to, participants ‘scored’ a 13.22 out of 20. That’s a big difference.

As in many areas of psychology, some cheating studies have failed to be replicated

To take another example, online participants in a study by Christopher Bryan and colleagues had to flip a coin 10 times , knowing they would be paid $1 for each heads. The average ‘performance’ was 6.31 heads , well above chance. Even when another group of participants was warned, ‘Please don’t cheat and report that one or more of your coin flips landed heads when it really landed tails! Even a small amount of cheating would undermine the study,’ the average was still 6.22 in that group.

How do these findings line up with our expectations about honesty? A person who is honest will not cheat in situations where she is a free and willing participant and the relevant rules are fair and appropriate, even if by cheating she is assured of acquiring some benefit for herself. That’s what you might expect of an honest person, but it’s not what we see happening in these results.

Of course, these are only two examples. To draw any conclusions about character from just a few results such as these would be very unwise. Fortunately there are dozens and dozens of additional findings that I have reviewed elsewhere , including many more studies using shredder and coin-flip paradigms. The important point here is not what any one study shows, but rather what the patterns of behaviour look like in general and whether they align with our expectations for honesty.

This is also relevant to recent worries about the replication crisis and about fraudulent data. As in many areas of psychology, some cheating studies have failed to be replicated. For instance, a well-known shredder study initially found that recalling the Ten Commandments was effective in reducing cheating, but this result did not hold up in an attempted replication with many more participants from 19 separate labs. Furthermore, it was well documented that an influential study, which purported to show that insurance customers were more honest in their mileage reports if they signed at the top of a form rather than the bottom, was fraudulent.

Again, this is why it is so important to not rely on just a few studies when trying to think about how honest people tend to be. It is the broader patterns that hopefully tell a reliable story.

Finally, this story is about what the majority of people tend to be like. It is based on average performances. But averages can cover up exceptional behaviour. So we may have a bell curve, with some people who are highly honest and others who are highly dishonest, while the rest of us are somewhere in the middle. Furthermore, the story should be taken to apply, in the first instance, only to inhabitants of North America and Europe, since they tend to be the participants in the existing studies. The story may apply more broadly, but we don’t have nearly enough research yet to say.

Assuming that many of us are not honest people in a variety of circumstances, and assuming that honesty is an important virtue that we should cultivate in ourselves and others, it is important to take practical steps to do so. And here is a third place where the virtue of honesty has gone missing. For very little has been said about strategies for growing in honesty, and about testing those strategies to see if they are really successful.

In my own classes, we all read aloud the honour code before the students sign it and begin their exam

Here are three preliminary suggestions that might be fruitful, but that also need empirical confirmation. One is seeking out and better understanding exemplars of honesty. These can be historical exemplars such as Abraham Lincoln, or contemporaries such as a family member, friend, co-worker or community leader. Admiring role models for their honesty can lead to a desire to emulate those people, to make our own character better reflect the exemplars’ character. Sustained engagement with the exemplars can typically be more effective than one-time interactions, and relatable and attainable exemplars can have a greater impact than their opposites.

Another suggestion is to have regular moral reminders of honesty in our lives. Such reminders can make our moral norms salient, such that they more actively work against a desire to cheat, lie or steal. Honesty reminders can take a wide variety of forms, including diaries, readings, signs and emails. There can also be institutional reminders, which we encounter at work or school. One such moral reminder in many schools is an honour code, which students have to sign before taking a test. And there is some very preliminary experimental evidence that such a reminder can be effective in preventing cheating. Returning to Shu’s research, she and her colleagues also had groups of participants take the maths test after reading or signing an honour code. When there was an opportunity to cheat, the honour code made a difference: participants who did not read the honour code gave themselves an average score of 13.09 out of 20; those who only read the honour code scored 10.05; while those who both read and signed the honour code scored 7.91 (a realistic score for the test, suggesting that they did not cheat at all). In my own classes, we all read aloud the honour code before the students sign it and begin their exam.

A final suggestion is to work against our desire to cheat, a desire that can be especially powerful when we think we can get away with cheating, and benefit in the process. Such a desire seems to be at work in studies such as those by Shu and Bryan, mentioned earlier, and introspectively we can all recognise moments in our lives when it has influenced us as well. One straightforward way to try to reign it in is to increase the policing of cheating and impose harsher penalties on those found guilty. For instance, with the move in education towards take-home exams during the COVID-19 pandemic, computer surveillance of students taking those exams has become a big business, although not without giving rise to a number of moral and psychological concerns.

Increased policing and punishment for cheating might be effective in curbing dishonest behaviour, although that, too, is an empirical claim that needs further study. But, even if it does, that’s not enough to foster the virtue of honesty. As I said earlier, motivation matters too. Here, the motivation for not cheating would be punishment avoidance, and that is a purely self-interested motivation. While I tried to be very ecumenical about what can count as an honest motivation, this is one that’s not going to make it on the list.

Instead, the desire to cheat could be diminished in a more virtuous manner by fostering other virtues alongside honesty, such as friendship and love. If someone is genuinely my friend, I want what’s best for that person, even if it is at the expense of my own self-interest. Similarly, if I love others and care deeply for them, then I am concerned about their own good. The deeper the friendship and love, the less likely it is that we would be dishonest with others for our own gain.

This article draws on Christian B Miller’s book Honesty: The Philosophy and Psychology of a Neglected Virtue (2021), with permission from Oxford University Press.

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12 Reasons Why Honesty Is Important In Life

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woman with one hand on her heart and the other in the air illustrating honesty

Honesty is important. That’s a given, right?

Not everyone seems to think so. Lies, deception, and the concealment of truth are commonplace.

But when you actually start to examine the case for honesty, you realize that it’s a far better option than the alternative.

So, here are 12 good reasons why the value of honesty is beyond measure.

1. It underpins trust in a relationship.

Whether you’re dealing with a partner, a friend, a family member, or a colleague, when you are honest with that person, they have a reason to trust you.

If they know that you are a person of honesty and integrity, they won’t need to question what you have to say or look for the underlying motives behind your actions.

They know that you are a straight up kind of person who says what they mean and does what they say.

Compare that to the opposite approach of untruths and half truths which erode trust away, either little by little or all at once.

2. It is easier to understand.

When you are clear in what you truly think or believe, there is no grey area for confusion to grow in.

The other person doesn’t have to second guess what you really mean.

And with clarity comes a better understanding of your expectations of them, should you have any.

They know what you would actually like them to do rather than trying to infer this from the mixed messages you may give when you aren’t being totally honest.

3. You are more likely to get what you want.

The previous point about clarity means that you are more likely to get the end result you are hoping for.

Oftentimes, we conceal our true desires or preferences behind the curtain of “sure” and “fine” and “okay” rather than speak our truth.

But when we are completely honest with ourselves and others, we encourage the right actions that lead to what we want.

When we speak up, the other person is more likely to listen. You may not get your way every time because compromises must often be made, but at least you’ll get your way sometimes or a middle ground will be reached that suits you both.

And being honest is not in any way manipulating people into doing what you want. It’s the complete opposite – it is being transparent and open so that others can take your views and feelings into consideration.

4. It makes space for others to be vulnerable.

Speaking of being open, the great thing about being honest is that it encourages others to be honest too.

And in terms of relationships with other people, openness gives rise to vulnerability and vulnerability gives rise to genuine connection.

Honesty is attractive in that sense because it allows the other person to drop the mask that they may feel they need to wear in life. They are free to be who they are in the knowledge that honesty is rewarded in your company.

5. It shows respect.

When we are honest with someone, we are respecting the fact that they deserve to know the truth.

Not only that, we are respecting the fact that they can handle the truth and don’t need to be told lies just because the truth may be difficult to hear.

Consider the alternative which is to deceive or conceal things from others. That is the very opposite of respect. It communicates that you think you know best what the other person ought to hear, when that’s not your place to say.

6. It almost always leads to the best outcomes in the long run.

Having just mentioned a person’s ability to handle the truth, it is worth pointing out that honesty is not always an easy thing to hear.

It can be difficult to listen to your partner who is telling you that they don’t want to be in a relationship with you anymore. Or a friend who says they think you need professional help for a drinking problem.

Sometimes we lie to ourselves so that we don’t have to face the harsh reality of our situation, and someone else being honest with us can reveal important things we need to address.

Whilst this can sting at the time, it can put us on a different path to someplace better than where we’re currently headed, whether that be a healthier relationship or getting sober.

7. It is simple.

Telling the truth is simple. There is no need to remember what you lied about and to whom. You can be confident that you have said what was true (at least, from your perspective) in the moment you said it.

Now, don’t confuse simple with easy. Being honest is not always easy. In fact, it can often be difficult and uncomfortable when you are telling someone something they might not want to hear.

But because there is no ambiguity in your message, there is little confusion when receiving it. And that makes things much simpler in the long run.

8. It is better for your mental health / inner peace.

Lying doesn’t come easily for most people. When you deceive others, it can feel like you are going against your values or who you want to be as a person.

Not only that, but as soon as you lie, you will live with the fear of that lie being discovered. That’s a mentally exhausting thing.

Honesty, though not always easy, doesn’t carry such burdens. Of course, you may feel slightly bad if you have to tell someone an uncomfortable truth, but that won’t last long.

Being honest means you can rest easy knowing that you have been true to yourself and done what you thought was best in a given situation. And authenticity is a great way to live.

9. It is good for your self-esteem.

Continuing on the mental health benefits of honesty, it helps to make you feel good about yourself.

Your self-esteem is essentially how much you like yourself as a person, and when you are honest, it is a lot easier to like yourself.

Not only that, but when you realize that people like you for who you are and for the honesty you bring, rather than a mask you put on in front of others, it’s empowering.

You can be you, be honest, and still be liked. Maybe not by everyone, but by enough people who matter.

10. It is a demonstration of your character.

There are many other personality traits other than honesty, but positive traits tend to occur together as part of a good character.

When you are honest, it will communicate that you are most likely kind, compassionate, hard working, and reliable.

Consider a liar, on the other hand. They might be tainted with the brush of someone who would cheat or steal or manipulate. Not traits you want to be associated with.

11. It is hard to challenge.

When you aren’t entirely honest with others in what you want, it allows them to challenge you and try to persuade you to their way of thinking.

But when you are honest with someone, they will find it difficult to find the weakness in what you are saying.

For example, if someone asks if you’d like to do something with them and you don’t want to, it is better to state that with crystal clarity rather than say, “Maybe another time.”

Because if your answer isn’t clear, the other person will probably try to twist your arm into doing the thing that you don’t want to do

12. It keeps toxic people away.

Some people live in the shadows of misdirection, concealment, coercion, and outright lies.

Those sorts of people find it hard to ply their toxic trade with those who are honest with themselves and honest with others.

Deception and honesty do not exist well together in the same space, so if you are honest, toxic people are more likely to look elsewhere to get what they want.

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About The Author

why is it important to be honest essay

Steve Phillips-Waller is the founder and editor of A Conscious Rethink. He has written extensively on the topics of life, relationships, and mental health for more than 8 years.

why is it important to be honest essay

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Honesty Essay | Essay on Honesty for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Honesty Essay: The importance of honesty has been instilled in us since the very beginning. Even though very preachy in its tone, it indeed is a wise thought. We were taught about it in the closed confines of our Moral Science classes in school; as we grew up, practical life taught us a lesson on the importance of being honest.

The quality of being truthful is an essential human quality. Not everyone dares to stand by and speak the truth always. People should garner this quality in themselves. The topic of Honesty is a popular topic among school students on which they are asked to write compositions. We have provided useful samples below.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Honesty for Students and Kids in English

A long essay of 450-500 words has been provided it is useful for students in classes 7, 8, 9, and 10. For the reference of students in Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a short essay of 100-150 words has been provided.

Long Essay on Honesty 500 Words in English

Benjamin Franklin once said a famous proverb that goes: “Honesty is the Best Policy.” The significance of this one proverbial phrase has been imposed upon us from right at the beginning. Back when we were kids, all of our parents and teachers taught us how to be honest and truthful under all circumstances. Back then, we might have found their preachings too wise to take into account, but the necessity and the consequences of being honest to have been realized over time. Over time, as we have grown up, life has taught us how immensely valuable the quality of honesty is, through various situations and dilemmas.

What exactly is Honesty, then? In simple words, Honesty implies being truthful to others; above all, it means being true to ourselves first. Honesty does not only mean speaking what is right; it means upholding the truth. Being an honest and wise person means standing by the fact, speaking it, embracing it, and always supporting it.

Often life poses before us certain circumstances that compel us to take the wrong way and speak a lie. We tend to get dishonest under certain situations. The path of dishonesty is a very alluring one. When one person realizes that they can get away with a misdeed owing to falsification, one tends to be dishonest repeatedly. Initially, it indeed is very tempting; however, in the grand scheme of things, the truth and the truth only find its way to glory. Being dishonest leads one down a spiraling hole, from which it is difficult to recline.

To err is human. All of us commit mistakes; nobody is perfect. Even the most honest of people can sometimes give in to dishonesty. One may find oneself in a very confused position in life that demands one to lie. It is very tough always to maintain an honest posture. However, one is forgivable if one realizes one’s misgivings over time.

Our conscience helps us to determine and consider that which is moral and that which is immoral. An inherently unwise person would repeatedly suppress the voice within themselves that asks them to tread a path of honesty. For their petty gains, they would resort to dishonesty. Such a deliberate attempt to tone down one’s inner voice to repeatedly falsify facts is not worth forgiving. It is neither of any benefit; because the truth always finds its way into the light.

There is one stark difference between being deliberately dishonest and fending white lies. White lies are lies that we all say once in a while to make up for situations we are put in. White lies do not have any casualties; they are harmless. White lies have no significant lousy impact on the one who tells it or the one who is said. They are justifiable.

However, under all circumstances, we should always try to remain honest. With honesty comes wisdom and peace of mind. The quality of being honest is very intellectual and one by which we all should abide.

Essay on Honesty

Short Essay on Honesty 150 words in English

Honesty is one such human quality that should be practiced and followed by everyone. The cannon of honesty ushers in other valuable cannons of trust and respect. With honesty, comes wisdom and boldness. The truth might not always be charming to hear or know; however, an honest person should always uphold it. Honesty requires boldness.

The power of truth is extreme; it tends to cripple a person. Thus, the act of being honest is a courageous one. Being dishonest and the act of repeatedly lying might seem like an easy way out of situations; it is not valid. The truth always triumphs overall. The truth glorifies the right and condemns the unjust. Being honest is an indication of being mature of standing by what is right.

10 Lines on Honesty Essay in English

  • The aspect of honesty is essential in our lives.
  • Honesty implies being truthful to others and oneself.
  • Before we are truthful to others, we must be honest with ourselves.
  • If we deny the truth ourselves, there is no way in which we can offer honesty to the world.
  • Dishonesty, lies, and falsification of facts are only momentary and short-lived.
  • In the long run, the truth reveals itself and destroys the false.
  • Honesty makes one’s life simple and free of all complications.
  • The importance and the need, to be honest, should be taught to people from the very beginning.
  • Honesty instills a sense of respect and self-confidence.
  • Honesty should reflect not only in our words but also in our actions.

FAQ’s on Honesty Essay

Question 1. Is being honest necessary?

Answer: Yes. Being honest is essential. There are no two ways to go about life without being truthful.

Question 2. How can one be honest?

Answer: Honesty implies being truthful. By speaking the truth and doing what is right, one can become honest.

Question 3. Why is being honest important?

Answer: Being honest is important because being a dishonest person helps nobody in any way. The truth always finds away, and it suppresses the lies. Being false and dishonest has no bright prospects.

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The Honest Truth:

March 12, 2023

Character Lab

Eranda Jayawickreme, the Harold W. Tribble Professor of Psychology and a senior research fellow at the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, talked to us about what parents and teachers should know about  honesty . Here are a few highlights: 

Let’s start with the basics. Why is honesty so important?

For thousands of years, honesty has been held up as a really important character trait by different philosophical traditions, religious traditions, across multiple cultures. A second, more practical, reason for caring about honesty is that if we want to get things done in the world, we need to form trusting relationships. People need to be able to take what we say at face value. And that has implications for forming good partnerships and marriages and being an active and successful participant in social life. So there are real consequences to being honest  or  dishonest. 

A third reason is that we desire honesty. My colleagues and I asked people in a  study  a few years ago, what are the characteristics of someone you respect, someone you like? The number one pick is honesty. A lot of other traits are important, like being compassionate and being fair. But honesty comes out on top.  

If everyone thinks honesty is important, why is it so hard?

It’s interesting, right? What’s most distinctive about honesty is that, in some cases, people lie because there’s tension with another action that also seems moral. For example, when you’re giving feedback to your child or a student, you want to be honest because otherwise, they aren’t going to learn. But you also want to be mindful of their self-esteem, so you have the motivation to be kind and compassionate. You want to find a balance between benevolence and honesty.

There’s also the famous philosophical case of the “Nazi at the door.” Imagine this scenario: You’re hiding people, and Nazi soldiers knock on your door and ask, “Are you hiding people?” What do you do? The moral thing to do is to lie, but then you’re lying. So how do you resolve that paradox? You have these situations where being honest may not be the right thing to do. Thankfully, many of us don’t have to deal with these sorts of moral dilemmas often. 

What do you think researchers know about honesty that most people get wrong? 

We all see these high-profile instances of people cheating or lying that make the news. A classic example is Bernie Madoff, who ran a Ponzi scheme and defrauded people. Or Tiger Woods, with his history of marital infidelity. When people read news stories like these, they assume that because these famous figures are lying, you can’t trust people. And that belief can be corrosive. If you go around the world thinking that most people will not be truthful with you, you’re going to be distrustful. It’s going to prevent you from fostering human connection, real human bonds. But in our research, we’re finding that most people are honest in their everyday life. 

A skeptic might say that people will tell researchers they’re honest just to make themselves look good.  

In our recent research, we’ve been using experience sampling methods—we can send people messages and ask them how honest they are being right now. And there are certain contexts where people are more willing to say they’ve been dishonest. I think that’s really cool because it shows that people are actually willing to acknowledge that, sometimes, they engage in behavior that could be considered immoral. 

For example, if you ask people, “In the last hour or so, were you in a situation where you had to deliver unpleasant news or where you were motivated to avoid something you didn’t want to do?” When you ask people whether they were in a specific situation like that, some people are happy to say, “Yes, I was in that situation, and no, I didn’t tell the truth.” But research is finding that, for the most part, we’re honest with our partners. We’re honest with our friends.

Click on the citation to read the original post:

Jayawickreme, E. (2023, March 12). The Honest Truth: Everyone struggles with honesty . Character Lab. Retrieved from https://characterlab.org/tips-of-the-week/the-honest-truth/

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How Honesty Could Make You Happier

why is it important to be honest essay

By Judi Ketteler

  • Sept. 19, 2017

I’ve been keeping an honesty journal for the past several months. With honesty much in the news lately — you might even say honesty is having a cultural moment — I wanted to reflect on my own. My 6-year-old daughter once told me that telling the truth made her feel “gold in her brain.” Could upping my personal honesty light up a pleasure center in my own brain?

My plan was to jot down different instances throughout the day where I had to make a choice about honesty and notice how it felt.

The day I started the journal, the same 6-year-old daughter asked me during her bath if the cat really went to sleep last year, and if that actually meant that I had killed him. I rinsed her hair and sighed, wondering if I should wait to start this honesty project until my children were grown. But I braved it and told her that yes, I had made the choice for him to die, because he was suffering and I wanted him to be at peace. She lost interest about halfway through my explanation, which was O.K. with me.

It struck me that the choice to lie or be honest was often a choice between two equally undesirable things. Telling my daughter the truth did not make me happier, but lying wouldn’t have either.

A bigger opportunity arose with my 8-year-old son. Though he didn’t know anything about the journal, after a few weeks, he seemed to open up in a new way, asking me things he was too embarrassed or scared to ask before, like what the word “pimp” meant and why people kill themselves. In fact, one of my biggest takeaways was that we shouldn’t lie to children when they are asking us about grown-up words or ideas — otherwise, they will just ask Siri. If it’s between YouTube and me to explain prostitution, I pick me.

Still, I wondered about those little lies we tell to avoid hurting people’s feelings. Researchers at the University of California San Diego Emotion Lab are looking at “prosocial” lies — the white lies we tell to benefit others, like telling an aspiring writer a story is great because you want to be nice and encouraging, when in reality you know it needs work and will meet rejection. A recent study at the lab suggests that we are more likely to tell a prosocial lie when we feel compassion toward someone, because if you feel bad for someone, the last thing you want to do is hurt him or her with the truth. These lies feel better in the short term, but they often do more harm than good in the long term. After all, the brutal truth can be painful, but people need to know it if they are to improve their performance, especially in a work or school situation.

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Benefits of Honesty: 10 Ways Truthfulness Pays You Off

Being honest is one of the most important values in life. Honesty helps us build trust, respect, and integrity with ourselves and others. Honesty also makes us happier, healthier, and more confident. When we are honest, we can live with peace of mind and joy in our hearts. Honesty is the best policy! So, now's the time to find out why you need to be honest.

why is it important to be honest essay

Sanju Pradeepa

Benefits of honesty

Have you ever noticed that life seems to go more smoothly when you tell the truth? That’s because honesty is one of those qualities that can improve almost any area of your life.

Trustworthiness takes courage, but it’s worth it.

It can be hard to practice being honest with yourself and with others, but the benefits are clear. Whether it’s improving your relationships, increasing your confidence, or making decisions easier, it is something that should be valued and appreciated.

We all know how important honesty is in principle, but what are the actual tangible benefits? In this article, I’ll share 10 ways that being honest can improve your life. We’ll discuss the concrete ways that honesty helps us live our best lives and how we can use it to our advantage. Read on to discover the truth about how it feel being a truthful person!

Table of Contents

Why being honesty matters to us a lot.

Why Being Honesty Matters to us A Lot

Being transparent and true to yourself and others can make a huge difference in your life.

Improved Relational Connections : When we show truthfulness in our relationships, we create a space of trust that allows us to form deeper connections. Being honest also helps us develop empathy for those around us and strengthens our relationships.

Enhanced Self-Confidence: Honesty rewards you with greater personal confidence because it shows you respect yourself enough to tell the truth even if it is difficult or uncomfortable to do so. Being honest about your thoughts and feelings builds trust in yourself, which can lead to improved self-esteem and self-love over time.

Increased Mental Clarity: By removing the need to constantly keep up with lies, you open up your mind to new possibilities and clarity of thought. No longer do you need to worry about who you told or how memorable it was; instead, you can focus on other important aspects of life that matter more than lying ever could.

These are just three of the many benefits of being honest, but they demonstrate how much we stand to gain by living an authentic life that honors truth above all else.

Benefits of Honesty

Here are 10 ways that being honest with ourselves and with others can improve our lives:

1. Honesty Builds Trust in Relationships

Honesty Builds Trust in Relationships

Honesty is the foundation of any successful relationship, and it’s something you need to prioritize if you want your relationships to last. When you’re honest with others, they tend to trust and respect you more. Being honest with yourself can help build self-confidence , too.

Being honest not only strengthens existing relationships but also facilitates new ones. People can sense when someone is genuine and trustworthy. When they see that in you, they are more likely to open up and share their thoughts honestly. This fosters mutual respect between both parties, deepening the relationship even further.

Honesty builds trust in relationships with yourself and others

Additionally, when people trust that what you say is true, it helps them feel safe and secure in a relationship because each party knows where the other stands on any given issue or topic of conversation. This allows for open dialog without fear of judgment, rejection, or misunderstanding.

2. It Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Honesty Reduces Stress and Anxiety

You may not have ever thought of this, but one of the real benefits of being honest is that it can help reduce stress and anxiety. Being honest means you don’t have to worry about getting caught in a lie or covering up a mistake. Plus, studies have shown that when people are honest, they experience fewer negative thoughts and lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol.

Being honest also reduces the need to constantly keep track of lies and coverups, which can be an incredibly stressful task. With honesty, you get to experience true peace of mind , knowing that there’s nothing hidden or lurking in the shadows waiting to trip you up. It’s a much more freeing way to live life and can lead to greater levels of overall happiness.

3. It Increases Confidence and Self-Esteem

Honesty Increases Confidence and Self-Esteem

Everyone enjoys feeling a sense of self-confidence and good self-esteem , and being honest is a powerful way to improve in this area. When you are honest you can trust your own words, thoughts, and behavior. This trust gives you the confidence to communicate openly, helping you to develop strong relationships with others.

Trust also generates a sense of integrity because you know that your words and actions match up. It can feel liberating to be open and truthful in your relationships and work lives. Plus, it’s much easier to remember what you say when it’s the truth!

When you don’t have to worry about keeping track of lies or worrying that someone will find out what you said or did, it takes a weight off your shoulders. You can then focus on more productive activities, like nurturing positive connections with others, instead of worrying about covering up lies and maintaining false images.

Being honest will help build relationships based on mutual respect where all parties involved can trust one another without worrying about hidden agendas or having to manage expectations based on false information. By holding yourself accountable for your words and actions through trustworthiness, you foster an environment where everyone is encouraged to be their true selves without fear of judgment or retribution.

4. It Leads to More Effective Problem Solving

It Leads to More Effective Problem Solving

When you’re honest, you’re better able to assess a situation for what it really is. You’re not trying to cover up mistakes, gloss over weak points, or otherwise fool yourself into thinking that the problem is something it’s not. That means that when it comes time to solve said problem, you have all the facts in front of you and can craft an effective strategy.

Being honest gives you the opportunity to:

  • Get input from others, which can help you solve the issue more quickly and accurately.
  • Look at solutions objectively without fear that they will have negative repercussions.
  • Gather intelligence on how similar issues were solved in the past, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
  • Break down complex issues into manageable tasks so they can be tackled systematically.

And when your tactics succeed, it won’t be just luck, you’ll know it’s because of all the hard work, honesty, and effort that went into crafting a solution.

5. Honesty Begets Success in Life and Career

Honesty Begets Success in Life and Career

We’ve all heard that honesty is the best policy, but did you know it’s also the key to success? Being honest has multiple benefits that will bring your life and career to greater heights, which we’ll discuss in this section.

More Respect

Honesty immediately wins people's respect.

People recognize when someone is being honest about something, even if they disagree with them, and this kind of behavior is admirable and earns respect from others.

Reaping what you sow

In any long-term project or venture, honesty will always net you positive results in the end. Honest people can be trusted to complete a project as promised or deliver on a commitment, whereas dishonesty often leads to problems down the line.

Improved reputation

Since honesty is valued by many people, those who demonstrate integrity are likely to develop a good reputation over time. A good reputation opens up doors of opportunity and helps build trust between people, something that any honest person will benefit from in life and their career.

6. It Shows you care.

It Shows you care

Believe it or not, being honest can make it easier to show that you care about someone. When you’re honest, you don’t have to worry about making up stories or pretending to feel something you don’t. Instead, you can focus on being genuine and letting your true feelings show. This makes it easier to connect with people and form meaningful relationships.

Honesty also shows that you care enough about someone to tell them the truth, even if it is uncomfortable or difficult to do so. And that level of caring isn’t something everyone takes the time to accomplish. It requires real effort and love for the other person. Not only that, but by being honest with people, you help them grow by providing them with the truth they need, which in turn makes them better people in the long run.

7. Attracts Other Honest People

Attracts Other Honest People

The kind of rapport you build with an honest person is unlike anything else. You know that, in an honest relationship, your feelings won’t be taken advantage of and your opinion will be respected. No longer will you feel like you have to hide who you are or put on a façade.

Honesty is a trait that other honest people gravitate toward

When you’re honest, it’s easier for other honest people to find their way to you and vice versa! Honesty tends to seek out honesty, and when these two types of people come together and form a relationship, it creates a cycle of trust that can last for years. Plus, being open and truthful can encourage others to be the same way too.

8. Allows You to Sleep at Night

Allows You to Sleep at Night

If you are honest with yourself and others, your conscience can rest easy. You will be free of the guilt that comes from lying and being dishonest, and that can help clear your mind of any stress or worry. With a clean conscience, you won’t have to worry about someone finding out the truth or having to remember what stories you’ve told previously. Being honest allows you to relax and have a peaceful night’s sleep.

Moreover, studies show that honesty is associated with better sleeping habits overall. Honest people tend to get better quality sleep than those who are dishonest, and they don’t experience as much difficulty falling asleep in the first place. This is likely because lying requires more cognitive effort than telling the truth, leading to higher levels of anxiety and stress. All things that can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.

9.It Fosters courage.

Honesty Fosters courage

Honesty gives us the strength to stand up for ourselves and our beliefs, even in the face of adversity. It can give us the courage to speak our minds, take risks, and be more confident in our decisions. It’s a way of leading by example and showing those around us that it’s okay to be open and truthful about who we are and what we believe in.

It allows us to practice vulnerability and authenticity, two qualities that can help increase resilience and bolster our ability to cope with life’s challenges . When we speak the truth openly, we build trust with others, which can help us feel more supported when taking on difficult tasks or facing uncertain situations.

Living an honest life empowers us to take on risks without fear of failure because we know that no matter what happens, we will continue to be true to ourselves. This self-confidence can become a source of strength and perseverance during times of hardship or difficulty.

When you are honest with yourself and others, you are more likely to be courageous in difficult situations

Finally, when we live an honest life, it helps foster a greater sense of self-awareness, which opens up new possibilities for personal growth and deeper connections with others.

10. Honesty Shows self-acceptance.

Honesty Shows self-acceptance

It isn’t just about telling the truth to others; it’s also about being honest with yourself. It means that you accept who you are , flaws and all. It allows you to take responsibility for your actions and emotions, and it encourages growth.

You can make more informed decisions about your life because you have a better understanding of your wants and needs. You may not always make the best decision, but at least it will be an honest one. Being honest also gives you a sense of security because it allows you to stay true to who you are without worrying about what others think.

Self-honesty helps build self-esteem and self-awareness. It helps us understand our strengths and weaknesses so that we can work on them or focus on our strengths even more. It’s also a way of showing respect for yourself. Respecting yourself enough to be honest about your capabilities and limitations

At the end of the day, self-honesty is key to having a successful life; being open to both the good and bad attributes that make up who we are as individuals is a major step in developing an authentic sense of self-confidence.

  • Why Honesty In Relationships Is Non-Negotiable & 7 Rules To Follow By Kelly Gonsalves published in mbgrelationships , 2023 – https://www.mindbodygreen.com/
  • 33 Reasons Why People Should Be Honest on Social Media By  Charles Crawford , Co-founder Published Dec. 15, 2014 in Social Media Today https://www.socialmediatoday.com/
  • Why Be Honest If Honesty Doesn’t Pay by  Amar Bhidé Howard H. Stevenson From the Magazine (September–October 1990) published in Harvard Business Review- https://hbr.org/

Call to Action

Being truthful is not only a virtue, but also a necessity in today’s world. Truthfulness helps us build trust, respect and integrity with ourselves and others. Therefore, we should always strive to be honest and sincere in our words and actions, no matter how difficult or challenging it may be.

This is the call to action that we need to heed and follow, for our own benefit and for the sake of humanity.

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Why Be Honest?

Is there a reason to be honest that will actually stop us from lying.

Posted February 23, 2014 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

Kenny Louie/Flickr

We all lie. Admittedly, most do so only occasionally. But we still all do. Yet most of us also consider ourselves honest.

In his book, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty , Dan Ariely offers evidence that we're able to believe we're honest even though we lie or cheat by doing so only in little ways. We're therefore able to tell ourselves we're mostly honest—that is, we're only dishonest in ways that we think don't matter.

Apparently this strategy works: most of us don't suffer serious cognitive dissonance over our integrity. Thus it seems we can have the best of both worlds without too much work: We can lie or cheat in little ways that place us at an advantage, but still get to view ourselves as fundamentally honest.

But aren't there good reasons to be honest even when we don't think we need to be? Of course. Here are just three: Even telling a small lie risks being unmasked as a liar, which would not only damage our reputation but also reduce the proclivity of others to trust us; further, one lie often leads to the need to tell another, more significant lie, which risks even greater negative consequences if discovered; finally, we can't necessarily predict the consequences of telling even a small lie, and if such consequences turn out to be more significantly adverse than we anticipated, our sense of responsibility and therefore guilt could cause us far more distress than we imagine.

Though many may agree these are all compelling reasons not to lie and could probably themselves come up with other excellent reasons I haven't mentioned, we still all do it. What makes lying so attractive that we all do it, even if in only minor ways, so commonly? In general, we lie to obtain the advantage of protection . We protect:

  • Ourselves. Lying often to avoid suffering painful consequences, shame , embarrassment , or conflict.
  • Our interests . Probably the second most common reason we lie is to get what we want. We lie to get material goods (like money) and non-material goods (like attention from the telling of tall tales).
  • Our image . We all want others to think well of us, yet we all do things we ourselves consider less than respectable at times. Rather than admit it, however, and suffer a diminution of others' respect, we often cover it up. Or, having failed to act courageously and virtuously, we lie to appear more courageous and virtuous than we are.
  • Our resources . We often lie to avoid expending energy or time doing something we really don't want to do (going out with a friend we find boring , attending a party we know we won't enjoy, working on a project about which we're not really enthused) but don't feel comfortable admitting.
  • Others . When asked if we like a haircut, shoes, writing, or performance, we often lie to protect our friends' and family's feelings. In their book, Nurtureshock , Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman present evidence that children lie to their parents far more often than parents realize because they think telling their parents what they want to hear will make them happier than telling them they failed to live up to their parents' expectations in some way. According to the research, forcefully confronting any suspected lying only makes children work harder at lying better.

Further, when confronted with a situation in which a lie seems expedient and beneficial, the mental calculus we perform often suggests that lying—despite the theoretical risk—is almost always a safe choice. That is, most of the time we really do find ourselves getting away with it. So we continue to think of lying as a useful tool.

What's more, some—perhaps even most—might argue that in some circumstances it's actually better to lie than to tell the truth. And while I'm not certain whether I agree, I can say—and I'm confident most would concur—the only circumstances in which this might conceivably be true are those in which we lie as an attempt to prevent harm. From telling our spouse that she looks good when we think she doesn't to telling the Nazis at our doorstep that no Jews live in our house when we're hiding an entire family of them in our attic, lying out of compassion represents perhaps the only reason we would accept—even hope—for a lie, meaning the only reason we would consider lying virtuous, right, and good.

I might argue in most circumstances such as these, however, it's still better to tell the truth. It may, in fact, be better to lie to the Nazis at your door, but how often do they actually show up? And when it comes to the kind of situations most of us must deal with in the course of our daily lives, is it really better to tell your spouse she looks good when she doesn't? Or is it better to make a habit of being tactfully honest so she can trust you more than anyone else to tell her the truth when she really wants and needs to hear it?

I would argue that whatever benefit we might obtain even from lying to protect someone else, that in most circumstances honesty is a better policy. If your spouse really does get upset for hearing that she doesn't look good in that dress, doesn't that suggest an underlying issue that should be examined, one in fact that you're deliberately avoiding by telling that lie?

Finally, there's a wonderful, if subtle, benefit to aiming to tell the truth in as many circumstances as we can that turns out to be the only reason that I find actually gives me pause when I'm tempted not to: a dedication to honesty motivates us to strive to become all the good things lying helps us pretend we already are. Whenever we come up against one of the reasons I mentioned above for lying (apart from trying to prevent harm), it unmasks a character defect we then have the opportunity to change. To live with the intent of avoiding any action that we'd ever feel the need to cover up leads to a remarkably stress -reduced life. This, then, is the reason that motivates me the most not to lie.

why is it important to be honest essay

Imagine developing a reputation for tactful but complete honesty upon which others know they can always rely. What an invaluable resource you'd become! People who say they want to hear the truth but are in reality more interested in being praised will quickly learn either not to ask you for your views or that the value of hearing the truth, no matter how painful, is greater than keeping their egos protected because it affords them the opportunity to reflect and self-improve. Others often have a far more accurate perspective on our character flaws than we do. If we're genuinely interested in improving ourselves or our work, what we need from them isn't flattery; it's the truth.

My book, The Undefeated Mind: On the Science of Constructing an Indestructible Self , is available now.

Alex Lickerman M.D.

Alex Lickerman, M.D. , is a general internist and former Director of Primary Care at the University of Chicago and has been a practicing Buddhist since 1989.

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Essay on Honesty And Integrity

Students are often asked to write an essay on Honesty And Integrity in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Honesty And Integrity

What are honesty and integrity.

Honesty means telling the truth and not lying. Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Both are very important for trust. Imagine a world where you can believe everyone and trust that they will do what is right. That’s a world with honesty and integrity.

Why Are They Important?

Being honest and having integrity helps us live peacefully with others. When we are truthful and make good choices, our friends and family can trust us. It makes our relationships stronger and happier.

Honesty and Integrity at School

In school, these values are key. If you always tell the truth and do your own work, teachers and classmates will respect you. It also means you really learn and grow.

Honesty and Integrity in the Future

When you grow up, honesty and integrity will help you at work. Bosses and co-workers will trust and rely on you. You will feel proud because you are known as someone who is truthful and does the right thing.

250 Words Essay on Honesty And Integrity

What is honesty, what is integrity.

Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. It’s like having a little voice inside you that tells you to be good, whether it’s returning a lost wallet or standing up for someone being treated unfairly.

Why Honesty and Integrity Matter

Being honest and having integrity helps you make friends who trust you. Teachers and parents are happy when they know they can believe what you say. It’s important because it makes you feel good about yourself, and others will see you as reliable and kind.

In school, honesty means doing your own work and not cheating on tests. Integrity is when you find a lost item and give it back to the person it belongs to. Friends will want to play with you because they know you won’t cheat in games.

Honesty and integrity are like superpowers that make you a hero in real life. They help you have good relationships and feel proud of yourself. Remember, being honest and full of integrity makes the world a better place for everyone.

500 Words Essay on Honesty And Integrity

Honesty and integrity are important values that guide how we live and interact with others. Honesty means telling the truth and not lying, cheating, or stealing. Integrity is when you do the right thing, even when no one is watching. It means you stick to your moral principles and do not let others or difficult situations change what you believe is right.

The Importance of Being Honest

Integrity in daily life.

Integrity means doing the right thing at all times. For instance, if you find a wallet full of money, integrity is returning it to the owner rather than keeping it for yourself. It can be tough to have integrity, especially if you feel pressured to do the wrong thing. But choosing to do what is right strengthens your character and helps you feel good about yourself.

At school, honesty and integrity play a big role. When you do your own work and don’t copy from someone else, you are being honest. It’s also important to be honest with your friends and teachers. If you make a mistake, admitting it is better than lying. Integrity at school means following the rules, even if you could easily break them without getting caught.

The Benefits of Living with Honesty and Integrity

Challenges to honesty and integrity.

Sometimes being honest and having integrity can be hard. You might be tempted to lie to avoid trouble or to gain something, like a better grade or more friends. But these short-term gains can lead to long-term problems. It’s better to face a small trouble honestly than to live with a lie.

Honesty and integrity are like a compass that guides you through life. They help you make good decisions, build strong relationships, and feel good about the choices you make. By choosing to be honest and to act with integrity, you are choosing to live a life that you can be proud of. Remember, it’s not always the easiest path, but it is the one that leads to trust, respect, and a clear conscience.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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why is it important to be honest essay

The Philosophy of Honesty

  • Philosophical Theories & Ideas
  • Major Philosophers

why is it important to be honest essay

  • Ph.D., Philosophy, Columbia University
  • M.A., Philosophy, Columbia University
  • B.A., Philosophy, University of Florence, Italy

What does it take to be honest? Although often invoked, the concept of honesty is quite tricky to characterize. Taking a closer look, it is a cognate notion of authenticity. Here's why.

Truth and Honesty

While it may be tempting to define honesty as speaking the truth and abiding by the rules , this is an overly-simplistic view of a complex concept. Telling the truth — the whole truth — is, at times, practically and theoretically impossible as well as morally not required or even wrong. Suppose your new partner asks you to be honest about what you have done over the past week when you were apart. Does this mean you’ll have to tell everything you have done? Not only may you not have enough time and you won’t recall all the details but is everything really relevant? Should you also talk about the surprise party you are organizing next week for your partner?

The relationship between honesty and truth is much more subtle. What is the truth about a person, anyway? When a judge asks a witness to tell the truth about what happened that day, the request cannot be for any particular detail whatsoever but only for relevant ones. Who is to say which particulars are relevant?

Honesty and the Self

Those few remarks should be sufficient in clearing up the intricate relationship there is between honesty and the construction of a self . Being honest involves the capacity to select, in a way that is context-sensitive, certain particulars about our lives. At the very least, honesty requires an understanding of how our actions do or do not fit within rules and expectations of the other person — any person we feel obliged to report to (including ourselves).

Honesty and Authenticity

But then, there's the relationship between honesty and the self. Have you been honest with yourself? That is indeed a major question, discussed not only by figures such as Plato and Kierkegaard but also in David Hume’s "Philosophical Honesty." To be honest with ourselves seems to be a key part of what it takes to be authentic. Only those who can face themselves, in all their own peculiarity, seem to be capable of developing a persona that is true to the self — hence, authentic.

Honesty as a Disposition

If honesty is not telling the whole truth, what is it? One way to characterize it, typically adopted in virtue ethics (that school of ethics that developed from Aristotle ’s teachings), makes honesty into a disposition. Here goes my rendering of the topic: a person is honest when he or she possesses the disposition to face the other by making explicit all those details that are relevant to the conversation at issue.

The disposition in question is a tendency that has been cultivated over time. That is, an honest person is one that has developed the habit of bringing forward to the other all those details of his or her life that seem relevant in conversation with the other. The ability to discern that which is relevant is part of honesty and is, if course, quite a complex skill to possess.

Despite its centrality in ordinary life as well as ethics and philosophy of psychology, honesty is not a major trend of research in the contemporary philosophical debate.

  • Casini, Lorenzo. "Renaissance Philosophy." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2020.
  • Hume, David. "Philosophical Honesty." University of Victoria, 2020, Victoria BC, Canada.
  • Hursthouse, Rosalind. "Virtue Ethics." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Glen Pettigrove, Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI), Stanford University, 18 July 2003.
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Honesty: A Virtue That Cannot Be Overemphasized

  • Category: Life , Philosophy
  • Topic: Honesty , Moral , Values of Life

Pages: 2 (1122 words)

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