Great Construction
Honesty and Dishonesty
When the question is whether it is better to be honest or dishonest, it is rather clear that it is better to be honest. But since the world at large is not so simple, there are times when honesty is demanded and then there are times when dishonesty is necessary. People who can make this distinction are taken to be great or shrewd. But as to how this judgment should be made, I have the following opinion. First, as a rule, it is better to be as honest as possible. Still, in situations where it is impossible to be honest, for example, when dealing with an ill person, even if you think individuals appear to have the shadow of death over them and you want to tell them they do not have much time left, rather it is better to tell a lie, nay, you probably should tell a lie. Of those who are said to have faced many hardships in life, however, surprisingly there are those who prefer to tell lies. A thorough observation of the world shows there are many who fail due to telling lies, but there are hardly any who fail due to being honest.
Assorted Reflections, Jikan Library, Volume 5, page 6, August 30, 1949
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translated by cynndd
“Shōjiki to Uso” first appeared as the third chapter of the Jikan Sōsho (Jikan Library), Volume 5, Assorted Reflections, August 30, 1949, and while Meishu-sama was still alive, reprinted in the essays anthology for ministers Goshin Sho: Shūkyō Hen (Divine Writings: Volume on Religion), page 458, March 25, 1954. “Shōjiki to Uso” has appeared in translation. Citation is given below for reference.