According to a common saying, "Honesty is the best policy." Lying often seems like a good way to impress people or avoid blame for mistakes. Some people lie out of habit, without even realizing they're doing it. But despite all this, honesty really is worth the effort.
One obvious reason for honesty is that lies are difficult to maintain. There's always a chance that the person you lied to will find out the truth.
Lies are also difficult to hide because they are harder to remember than the truth. If you make up a story, you have to remember all the details. But if you commit to telling the truth, you will never have trouble remembering. This saves you effort and makes conversations less stressful for you.
Another obvious reason to avoid lying is that lying can harm others. People who believe your lies might make bad decisions because of them. And a lie about someone else could destroy that person's reputation. On a personal level, if your friends find out you lied to them, their feeling will be hurt. They will question whether they can trust you or wonder whether you care about them. In contrast, if you always tell the truth, you will develop a reputation for honesty. Business deals, friendships, family and romantic relationships all depend on trust.
Sometimes it's best to remain silent if your words might hurt someone else. Honesty means that when you speak, you tell the truth without holding any information back. When you do that, you will feel more relaxed and enjoy stronger relationships.
A. This will help you in every area of your life.
B. But in daily life, honesty can be difficult.
C. Is the gain from lying really worth the risk?
D. We will get others' respect and appreciation if telling the truth.
E. Being honest is a basic principle for us to deal with others.
F. Honesty, however, doesn't mean you have to say everything in your mind.
G. And the more lies you tell, the more stories you have to remember.
