Virtue – a particular moral excellence

I believe that Honesty is a moral excellence.

Honesty is telling the truth… with grace. Honesty cannot stand alone – she must have the other Virtues as her companions otherwise she is destructive. Honesty must be tempered by the restraining power of Love, Joyfulness, Peace-making, Patience, etc.

Honesty that is not tempered is like a knife made of soft steel – it will server its master well until it comes up against something hard. Then, it becomes dull and useless. The person who is brutally honest will end up being simply brutal.

In order for Honesty to remain sharp and gracious, it must be tempered and honed.

Honesty does not manipulate people or circumstances by playing with the truth. Honesty reveals what is really there.

Honesty does not use truth as a club but as a light. The goal of Honesty is unity built around truth.

When it is necessary to correct others, Honesty tells the truth gently and provides both hope and comfort.

Imagine a community in which people exercise Honesty in their dealings with themselves and one another. People would stop accusing and start helping. They would stop blaming and start cooperating. They would stop feeling like a victim and take the initiative to heal. Most important, they would stop using one another and start serving.

What would that be like?