Is integrity important today? The dictionary
defines integrity in terms of soundness of moral character, adherence to
ethical principles and being unimpaired. Its Middle English root is related to
integrate (to bring together as a whole) and integral (complete and whole).
These references to wholeness rightly suggest that integrity affects all
aspects of our lives, which is why it is like a healthy investment portfolio
filled with blue chip stocks such as honesty, fairness and loyalty.
It seems to me that integrity that
strengthens an inner value system is the real human bottom line. It means that
you don’t base your decisions simply on being politically correct. You do
what’s right, not what’s fashionable. You know that truth is absolute, not a
device for manipulating others. And it’s not just in the major decisions that
this quality is needed.
Returning phone calls, showing up to
meetings on time, paying your bills, are little things but complete integrity
in little things is no little thing at all. As it has been said many times,
“The devil is in the details” and “elephants don’t bite, but fleas do.” There
are no degrees of integrity. You have it or you don’t. Being slightly dishonest
may be a safe adventure for a time. But one day, inevitably, little details
will be noticed and the piper will have to be paid. Your word is more valuable
than a surety bond. What you are speaks so loudly no one can really hear what
you say. If what you do matches what you say, your life will speak forcefully
indeed. In people, we value honesty more than any other virtue. We expect it
from our leaders. We must demand it from ourselves.
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