“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” -Thomas Jefferson

“Truth matters and speaking the truth matters.  My parents never taught me how to lie when I was a young boy, but it is a thing that I learned.  Children will lie at times to escape punishment, and I have found that this trait remains in many adults. 

We lie to escape or lessen the consequences of our actions.  Some people lie because they are liars and deception is their way, but most lies spoken by basically honest people are rooted in the avoidance of consequence. 

I do not want to be “basically” honest.  I desire to be a man of integrity and honor and this is not possible unless I speak the truth.  To become a person of absolute and complete honesty we must change our actions, for when our actions are upright and just, there will be no need to avoid consequences and never a reason to lie to lessen or avoid consequences. 

Actions of truth, honor, and integrity give power to our words, and in truth we should never feel shame and we should never fear the consequence.  Never be ashamed of doing what is right and never feel that you have to justify doing that which is right.  In truth there is no reason to lie.”