JOIN USThe baker of a small village bought the pound of butter that he required each day from a poor farmer.
One day, he decided to weigh it and check if it really amounted to a pound. It fell short and, angered by this, he took the farmer to court. The judge asked the farmer whether he weighed out the butter each day. Replied the farmer, ‘I use a scale, but put no weights. Much before I started selling the butter, I was in the habit of buying a pound of bread from him. Each morning I placed the loaf on the scale to weigh the butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is he.’
The judge required no more proof. He pronounced the baker guilty and ordered him to recompense the farmer. Admonishing him further, he told him sternly, ‘Give up your cheating ways. Remember that honesty is the best policy.’
Whether buying or selling, everyone wants a fair deal. No one likes to be cheated. In fact businesses that survive and prosper are those that shun questionable practices. The dealer whose watchword is integrity will not stoop to deceive. He abides by the dictum that honesty is the best policy. As far as trade goes, this is an admirable principle. But it nevertheless raises a question.
Is honesty a matter of quid pro quo? In other words, do we play fair only so that we get fair play in return? If nobody were to know and level accusations of cheating, how honest would you be? The answer to this question will draw a clear line between reputation and character, between worldly credibility and spiritual affirmation. It is easy to do what is right when the world is watching; it is much more difficult to uphold ideals when no eyes are trained on you.
True honesty will pay no heed to whether it confers an advantage or not. Those who are honest only because it brings them returns or creates a good impression are unprincipled and unscrupulous. They will cheat when the circumstances are favourable. Day in, day out, we hear of scams. It is clear proof that for some dishonesty is the best policy. These cheats exist in every walk of life.
Only some are caught and punished. Most of them escape detection, build fortunes and live in luxury. It is the honest that suffer. They often lose what they have earned by dint of hard work. Then there are those who are persecuted for daring to speak the truth and act with integrity. Does it then pay to be honest? It is here that we set reputation aside and deal with character. In doing this, we see the spiritual benefits of being honest.
The dishonest may win wealth and physical comforts, but they ransom what can be considered most precious – self-esteem. This individual will find that he cannot trust anyone because he himself is untrustworthy. He forfeits all peace of mind because he is in perpetual fear of being caught. What is worse, in order to hide his misdeeds he indulges in more dishonesty. He fails to understand that in the world of the spirit, honesty is not mere policy. Infinitely greater, it is really a test of integrity.