Honesty is not the Best policy ?

Honesty is very dangerous these days. Danger is from two sides. first dishonest boss and colleaugues. You work in a team. An honest person is weakest link that needs be broken. Secondly, this is the customer/ client who wishes his illegal work done for payment of suitable amount. Here I am tempted to narrate an example of how my father an officer in Defence ministry tackled. There was a very honest supervisor. He would not like to get any thing from contractors and would work only regularly. His subordinates were unhappy. Commission for releasing payments to contractors is age old tradition since British rule. My father told the supervisor that he may not receive anything but he could allow his subordinate to get the commission and distribute or if preferred he could give that in some charity as well. The supervisor was adamant. Ultimately he had to be transferred elsewhere. 

Gulshan Kumar Ajmani wrote:

Honesty is very dangerous these days. Danger is from two sides. first dishonest boss and colleaugues. You work in a team. An honest person is weakest link that needs be broken. Secondly, this is the customer/ client who wishes his illegal work done for payment of suitable amount. Here I am tempted to narrate an example of how my father an officer in Defence ministry tackled. There was a very honest supervisor. He would not like to get any thing from contractors and would work only regularly. His subordinates were unhappy. Commission for releasing payments to contractors is age old tradition since British rule. My father told the supervisor that he may not receive anything but he could allow his subordinate to get the commission and distribute or if preferred he could give that in some charity as well. The supervisor was adamant. Ultimately he had to be transferred elsewhere. 

The present scenario prevailing in the country speaks for itself that Honesty never pays. We can see how some of the whistle blowers are being hunted and killed. In this case pertaining to your father, reestablishes the fact that Honesty never pays.

 That's why they say " Truth is bitter." How many in the society can digest this fact ?

These are the book words and seems very good in the book but in real life its very dangerous because if someone speaks the truth then he/she might be killed, the books teaches us to be honest but the world teaches us to be dishonest.

" Honesty is the Best Policy " has no validity in the present scenario. The way in which Honest officers are fired or killed establishes Honesty is the best policy is impracticable and impossible.

rambabu wrote:

" Honesty is the Best Policy " has no validity in the present scenario. The way in which Honest officers are fired or killed establishes Honesty is the best policy is impracticable and impossible.

 Like every thing else, there is limit to honesty also. Too much dishonesty also does not work. One has to be pragmatic enough. Dirung course of time, some standards of bribe or 'commission' are fixed. Giving or taking bribe according to such 'standards' is permissible. But if some body is too greedy and demands more, there is trouble. On the other hand,if some body is too honest and will not work according to accepted norms and rates of bribe, he will be an utter falure.   

Gulshan Kumar Ajmani wrote:

rambabu wrote:

" Honesty is the Best Policy " has no validity in the present scenario. The way in which Honest officers are fired or killed establishes Honesty is the best policy is impracticable and impossible.

 Like every thing else, there is limit to honesty also. Too much dishonesty also does not work. One has to be pragmatic enough. Dirung course of time, some standards of bribe or 'commission' are fixed. Giving or taking bribe according to such 'standards' is permissible. But if some body is too greedy and demands more, there is trouble. On the other hand,if some body is too honest and will not work according to accepted norms and rates of bribe, he will be an utter falure.

Proverb is right but time is wrong. A person must be honest for yourself. As possible we should be honest.   

 

This what we have inherited from our previous leaders and governments...corruption and dishonesty has become now a way of life , because our politicians have seen to it that they get away with all their wrong doings. It is now difficult to know which is right and which is wrong , since the difference is almost nil and it has become a way of life.., 

rambabu wrote:

" Honesty is the Best Policy " has no validity in the present scenario. The way in which Honest officers are fired or killed establishes Honesty is the best policy is impracticable and impossible.

yes its totally right what you said because if something is not going right then people will never go to that path. so in that manner if honesty is hurting anybody at the cost of his/her life then nobody will practice this or dare to go there.

 

anil wrote:

Gulshan Kumar Ajmani wrote:

rambabu wrote:

" Honesty is the Best Policy " has no validity in the present scenario. The way in which Honest officers are fired or killed establishes Honesty is the best policy is impracticable and impossible.

 Like every thing else, there is limit to honesty also. Too much dishonesty also does not work. One has to be pragmatic enough. Dirung course of time, some standards of bribe or 'commission' are fixed. Giving or taking bribe according to such 'standards' is permissible. But if some body is too greedy and demands more, there is trouble. On the other hand,if some body is too honest and will not work according to accepted norms and rates of bribe, he will be an utter falure.

Proverb is right but time is wrong. A person must be honest for yourself. As possible we should be honest.

I remember the movie Satyakam- on total honesty and truth. The  total honest man is a great sufferer. He remarks sarcastically-  Honesty is not best policy. Honesty is my nature, my dharama.

Honety is great but we donot deserve this. Total honesty is ideal situation but this is bad policy in a society consisting mainly of corrupt or dishonest.    

 

 

Unfortunate instances mentioned in the article and posts . Corruption does seem to be a way of life for many.But that can not mean honesty is obsolete or passe. It is one's personal choice and preference. For me, it is better to be side stepped or transferred because of my honesty than reach great heights through dishonesty . I can face the world if I've been wronged but I'll not be able to answer to myself if I have done wrong. Depends on priority. Moreover, I would still like to believe that honesty does pay in most cases if coupled with hard work and being street-smart/worldly wise. An honest person can be worldly wise as well.

It is true that remaining honest in many depts of government and private companies is very difficult. For every honest person there are perhaps 100 ready to accept favors dishonestly. Thus the honest person is not only disliked but also hated. Usually he gets transferred to places where there is very little scope of dishonest dealings like record keeping, library or technical or statistical depts. and is condemned to a isolationist existence. Grudging respect is all he gets for being honest .

If some wants to remain honest but it is very hard at present. Koyley ki dalai main hath to kaley ho hi jayngey.   

anil wrote:

If some wants to remain honest but it is very hard at present. Koyley ki dalai main hath to kaley ho hi jayngey.   

One must see the things in real perspective. In the present scenario in every sphere of our life Dishonesty is ruling the roost. There is no such place where you cannot see dishonesty Keeping this point in view, if one wants to stick to Honesty, he is bound to face not only failure but ridicule.

Wisdom lies in acting according to the times.

Lopamudra wrote:

Unfortunate instances mentioned in the article and posts . Corruption does seem to be a way of life for many.But that can not mean honesty is obsolete or passe. It is one's personal choice and preference. For me, it is better to be side stepped or transferred because of my honesty than reach great heights through dishonesty . I can face the world if I've been wronged but I'll not be able to answer to myself if I have done wrong. Depends on priority. Moreover, I would still like to believe that honesty does pay in most cases if coupled with hard work and being street-smart/worldly wise. An honest person can be worldly wise as well.

I have grown cynical over the years but I tend to agree with you...Personally I would rather be honest and face the consequences rather than be dishonest and feel guilty all my life.I have had to face several blockades due to this stand but at least I can look back without any remorse.

By being honest, one is boundto earn more foes than friends. It's not all, you will be subjected to ridicule. Times are changing. Along with the times the moral values also bound to change. It's here you are bound to exercise  discrimination. It's an exercise in futility to stick to worn out sayings and beliefs and repent all along the life.

rambabu wrote:

By being honest, one is boundto earn more foes than friends. It's not all, you will be subjected to ridicule. Times are changing. Along with the times the moral values also bound to change. It's here you are bound to exercise  discrimination. It's an exercise in futility to stick to worn out sayings and beliefs and repent all along the life.

 

Dear Ram babu gaaru,

I second your opinion about earning foes than friends. In a way when we reply to our dear one's comments on social media, we are greeted with ridicule rather than appreciation (as already mentioned by you). I think people like to listen or read sugar coated things that falsify facts and satisfy their hearts....

There used to be the good old days of learning, where honesty was considered the top value and liers were caught....

Swetha Shenoy wrote:

rambabu wrote:

By being honest, one is boundto earn more foes than friends. It's not all, you will be subjected to ridicule. Times are changing. Along with the times the moral values also bound to change. It's here you are bound to exercise  discrimination. It's an exercise in futility to stick to worn out sayings and beliefs and repent all along the life.

 

Dear Ram babu gaaru,

 

I second your opinion about earning foes than friends. In a way when we reply to our dear one's comments on social media, we are greeted with ridicule rather than appreciation (as already mentioned by you). I think people like to listen or read sugar coated things that falsify facts and satisfy their hearts....

There used to be the good old days of learning, where honesty was considered the top value and liers were caught....

First of all  let me express my joy on seeing you here after a long time. Coming to the thread, I fully agree with you that sugar coated and sycophantic talk and oily talks rather than the truth. That's why they say Truth is too bitter to assimilate.

chinmoymukherjee wrote:I would prefer to be honest,dishonest- court any virtue or vice - to never,ever turn Swetha into a foe! I am perfectly aware of the consequences of such a foolhardy course,he he !!!!

Ha haha Chinmoy ji, no one, i repeat no one can beat you in the war of words!!!!

I am and always be glad and humble to have you consider me as your friend! I was trying to on emphasis on the fact that honesty, truth and straighforwardness have only few takers!

As stated by@Usha honesty gives courage to an individual to face situations and lead a peaceful life. For such life honesty indeed is the best policy.