Thread

Integrity

The greatest test of my integrity is not what others do, but what I do in response. A definition of integrity “is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles”. Words such as truth, decency, honour, sincerity and trustworthiness are mentioned

If I think that someone has not acted with integrity, how am I to respond? I am certainly not required to be silent, or to acquiesce – but neither should I compromise my own integrity by acting in a which involves lowering my standards. And that is where the real test lies.

It is really tough – at least I find it so – when someone does something I think is dishonourable, or lacking in decency, or insincere. We all make mistakes, at least I do, but it’s important not to make the mistake of responding in kind.

He was dishonest, so we can all tell lies now. She was insincere, so there’s no need to be genuine in what we say any more. They are not trustworthy, so we can all be unreliable as a result. You can see where that leads.

But it doesn’t make it easy. Why should you make sacrifices, if others do not? Why should we strive to consider for each other, if others are inconsiderate of us? Why should I accept limitations if others are quite willing to flout regulations?

It’s not a road worth walking. Many have made significant sacrifices and some have lost their lives in response to the need to avoid infecting others. We must avoid another contagion too – the risk that we let ourselves and others down, if we feel let down ourselves.

Nobody feels better if we all become worse. It may seem pointless to go on doing what is right if others do not, but that is what integrity is about. Would you prefer a sigh of relief because you weren’t caught this time, or lying down to rest knowing that you did what was right?

It seems likely that we will have to have stick with some restrictions for a while, and some may have to remain for the foreseeable future. Facing these challenges with a commitment to the common good seems the most likely way to success, whatever the temptation to do otherwise.