Honesty is not a ‘policy’ at all, but rather, it is a ‘state of mind’. It is whether a particular person is naturally honest or not, as to whether they will show that ‘honesty’.  When one looks at this world, with all the corruption - not just within society as a whole - but within our own governments - is it any wonder that people ask the question: why should they be honest?

It is certainly true that there is no justice in this world. The rich and powerful continue to get richer, and more powerful, while the rest of us look on and wonder why we follow rules and regulations [which are set by the rich] when they themselves break those very same rules daily? It seems the more dishonest a person, the more they seem to thrive and prosper. While, at the same time, those who are too honest never get anywhere - and certainly never prosper.

If one really looks at it, then does being honest really pay? It seems that if one is too honest, then they get nowhere in this world. Which then brings us to say that honesty is NOT always the best policy. However, honesty depends upon what ‘context’  and circumstance it comes under.

Obviously, if one is witness to a murder, or to something else that could pervert the course of justice, then one would say that honesty is always the best policy - rather than tell lies. But this article is playing ‘Devil’s Advocate, and stating that being ‘honest’ is not always the best policy. As for affairs of the heart, again, it depends on the situation, as each situation depends upon the factors that are involved. Should one always be honest when it comes to affairs - affairs that could end up splitting a marriage, or a relationship?

Should the one who is having the affair come clean, and tell the truth? Again, this depends a lot on the situation - and on how ’honest’ the person is. If one partner has had an affair, and then the other - some time later- follows suit, [without even knowing that their ‘significant other’ has had an affair] then who should be honest first? Maybe the relationship was going nowhere, and was getting stale anyway?

Maybe the relationship had run its course and there were simply too many arguments about the smallest of things? Maybe if one had said nothing about the said ‘affair’ then he or she could resolve their differences with their partner as time passes by. After all, a lot of people go by the saying of ‘what they don’t know doesn’t hurt them’. When all is said and done, honesty, being viewed as always the ‘best policy’ is not necessarily true. Each situation, each individual circumstance, is different to different people. And it is how each person handles the issue of ‘honesty’ which will see them tell the truth…or simply lie.

As stated earlier in this article, one only has to read the newspapers, or watch the news on television, to see how dishonest so many people are. This is even down to people with money and power. They say the good die young, and honest, while those who lie, and cheat their way through life, seem to prosper and thrive. What ‘fine’ examples are those who are in the seat of financial, or governmental power who, by any means necessary, will cheat their way to the top?

Is it any wonder then, that so many of our people - old as well as young - watch what is going on with mounting despair? They watch the gangsters driving their sports cars, and wearing their latest jewellery, and top of the range wristwatches. They watch cheating politicians, with their two or more private homes, and say to themselves. ‘I want a piece of that pie’?

So, in that context, who can blame a person when he or she sees their bills going up every month, their wages [if they are lucky enough to be employed] frozen - while those that cheat and lie against the system - and the honest taxpayer - see their money escalating by the SECOND, because of bank interest. No. The whole system is full of hypocrisy and will remain so for as long as human beings exist in this world. One can truly say that honesty is NOT always the best policy to possess in this world.