Honesty Over Everything

We all know that one person who always seems to be telling lies, and we all often wonder “why can’t he or she just tell the truth for once?” Well, lying is like an avalanche; it starts small, continues to grow, and then eventually damages the lives of many. Everyone tells a little white lie here and there, but some begin to rely on these lies in order to protect the feelings of others. However, this reliance on concealing the truth becomes a habitual action that allows lies to be seen as a way to preserve happiness within relationships. But what happens when those surrounding begin to realize the constant lies that they have been told? Will they instantly forgive the individual who was simply trying to keep everything pleasant? This will most likely not occur because the build up of many small lies causes individuals to become oblivious to significant details within their own lives. 

Yes, it’s important to bring as much pleasure into others’ lives as possible, but lying in order to accomplish this task is an unjust way to do so. The sad part to it all is that lying is an action that will seemingly never end. We all want to be told the truth, yet does anyone actually do so 100% of the time? Pinker believes that this way in which we desire to be told the truth has become a “universal hypocrisy” because few succeed in doing so themselves. 

So how do we begin to heighten the honesty within our society? This will not be easy, but a good way to begin is by simply understanding that in the end, honesty is the greatest way to preserve happiness within relationships.