Honesty is important

As one gets older, dishonesty becomes easier to perpetrate and justify. You start to see that the world isn’t black & white. It becomes clearer that there’s no real [direct] reward for honesty as you witness many liars get what they want. People from your youth, who once concurred on becoming ethical individuals, begin to justify dishonesty. This makes it increasingly difficult to hold on to honesty, as maintaining those relationships becomes a reason to compromise your own integrity.

I don’t think any human being is fully immune to this erosion of their moral fibre. Yet, it’s this very difficulty that underscores the importance of honesty. If maintaining honesty was effortless, it would be a common trait. It’s how you navigate the complexities that determines your character.

Though I lack empirical evidence, my experience suggests that striving for honesty while suppressing dishonesty attracts like — minded individuals, which likely makes for a more peaceful & (emotionally) safe life.

Somewhat related — 10 mins video about radical honesty in dating.