A Quote by Robert E. Lee

The trite saying that honesty is the best policy has met with the just criticism that honesty is not policy. The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy.

Robert E. Lee

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Quote Author

Robert E. Lee
American - Military man
January 19, 1807 - October 12, 1870

The trite saying that 'honesty is the best policy' has met with the just criticism that honesty is not policy. The seems to be true. The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy.

Robert E. Lee

We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously ceases to be honesty.

Dorothy L. Sayers

Honesty is the best policy; but he who is governed by that maxim is not an honest man.

Richard Whately

The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy.

Robert E. Lee

Honesty is not necessarily the best policy. The best policy would be to acquire a reputation for honesty and then to cheat at the psychological moment.

William Lyon Phelps

Is there a difference between a man who thinks that honesty is the best policy, and an honest man?

C. S. Lewis

Honesty is the best policy, says the familiar axiom; but people who are honest on that principle defraud no one but themselves.

James A. Garfield

Honesty is the best policy ; a policy is, after all, a strategy for living in the polis in the city.

Samuel R. Delany

Certainly he is not of the generation that regards honesty as the best policy. However, he does regard it as a policy.

Walter Lippmann

I am afraid we must make the world honest before we can honestly say to our children that honesty is the best policy.

George Bernard Shaw

Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy.

George Carlin

Before us lie two paths - honesty and dishonesty. The shortsighted embark on the dishonest path; the wise on the honest. For the wise know the truth; in helping others we help ourselves; and in hurting others we hurt ourselves. Character overshadows money, and trust rises above fame. Honesty is still the best policy.

Napoleon Hill

People like to see honest persons. So I certainly will advise many young people who want to participate in politics, honesty is the best policy.

Ma Ying-jeou

Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy.Bothyourreligionand policy must be basedon it.

John Ruskin

In the long run, I believe that honesty is definitely the best policy. One can get away by being dishonest for a short term, but ultimately, honesty is what pays.