"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!" ~Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)
Want to read more about him? http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/
"People who are brutally honest get more satisfaction out of the brutality than out of the honesty."
~Richard J. Needham
I never gave much thought to being "brutally" honest ... I always felt that, brutally or not, honesty, is exactly that - telling the truth. However, reading this quote this morning reminded me of times that I've been accused of being "brutally honest". I never looked upon being brutally honest as a bad thing (although sometimes I've inadvertently hurt a person's feelings), as I never had ill intentions - whether we're talking truth or lies. Some people lie to spare another's feelings (and usually call them "white lies", or "stretching the truth"). Reflecting now on the above quote, I guess there are people who are truthful, and "brutally" honest, with selfish or ill intentions. I have been "truthful, to a fault", but I see that differently than lying to someone for self-satisfaction or just being mean, at heart.
"Truth is such a rare thing, it is delightful to tell it." ~Emily Dickinson
In my younger years, I found that when I told the truth, it was often questioned. I found it easier to lie, since I wasn't believed when I did tell the truth. That act of not believing me, taught me to lie. It is easy to lie, but it's not easy to remember them, and keep them straight ... especially as the days, weeks, months, and years pass. If you're a chronic liar, you might be in denial, but they will - eventually - catch up with you. Now ... I would rather someone doesn't believe me, or chastise me for the truth, than to lie. There's just no future in it, and a waste of time to have to remember them. One lie begets another ... simple ... the domino theory, they will never stop - unless you stop the madness yourself, and fess up. Tell the truth ...
"The cruelest lies are often told in silence." ~Adlai Stevenson
I see this in politics, and big business so much. So often, it's "what we don't know" that could make a difference in what and how we believe in something, or someone. I have to take a hit on this one, too, referring to a statement I made in an earlier blog this morning - those "things" we often "choose" not to share openly, or discuss. However, having said that, I cannot imagine anything about my life or my past that I don't or haven't shared, would I consider "cruel" or would affect others in the universal scheme of things.
"A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation." ~Saki
True, it can, but does that "justify" it though?
"I can still lie, but I choose not to anymore. If I can't tell the truth, I'll avoid it, but won't lie." ~nr lenz
Want to read more about him? http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/
"People who are brutally honest get more satisfaction out of the brutality than out of the honesty."
~Richard J. Needham
I never gave much thought to being "brutally" honest ... I always felt that, brutally or not, honesty, is exactly that - telling the truth. However, reading this quote this morning reminded me of times that I've been accused of being "brutally honest". I never looked upon being brutally honest as a bad thing (although sometimes I've inadvertently hurt a person's feelings), as I never had ill intentions - whether we're talking truth or lies. Some people lie to spare another's feelings (and usually call them "white lies", or "stretching the truth"). Reflecting now on the above quote, I guess there are people who are truthful, and "brutally" honest, with selfish or ill intentions. I have been "truthful, to a fault", but I see that differently than lying to someone for self-satisfaction or just being mean, at heart.
"Truth is such a rare thing, it is delightful to tell it." ~Emily Dickinson
In my younger years, I found that when I told the truth, it was often questioned. I found it easier to lie, since I wasn't believed when I did tell the truth. That act of not believing me, taught me to lie. It is easy to lie, but it's not easy to remember them, and keep them straight ... especially as the days, weeks, months, and years pass. If you're a chronic liar, you might be in denial, but they will - eventually - catch up with you. Now ... I would rather someone doesn't believe me, or chastise me for the truth, than to lie. There's just no future in it, and a waste of time to have to remember them. One lie begets another ... simple ... the domino theory, they will never stop - unless you stop the madness yourself, and fess up. Tell the truth ...
"The cruelest lies are often told in silence." ~Adlai Stevenson
I see this in politics, and big business so much. So often, it's "what we don't know" that could make a difference in what and how we believe in something, or someone. I have to take a hit on this one, too, referring to a statement I made in an earlier blog this morning - those "things" we often "choose" not to share openly, or discuss. However, having said that, I cannot imagine anything about my life or my past that I don't or haven't shared, would I consider "cruel" or would affect others in the universal scheme of things.
"A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation." ~Saki
True, it can, but does that "justify" it though?
"I can still lie, but I choose not to anymore. If I can't tell the truth, I'll avoid it, but won't lie." ~nr lenz
