[lit-ideas] Re: "Honesty Is The Best Policy" -- and Whately's Paradox
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 09:31:39 EDT
In a message dated 10/13/2004 4:22:05 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Robert.Paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Cervantes said 'Honesty's the best policy' [_Don Quixote_ (pt. II, ch.
XXXIII)
Benjamin Franklin, who is often credited as having said it first, was either
borrowing from Cervantes, or hit upon it independently (it really isn't that
profound a saying).
Richard Whately would seem to be playing off the ubiquity of this proverb.
--- I agree that the proverb, "Honesty is the best policy" is not very
profound. What is slightly more profound -- and paradoxical, to boot, is Dr.
Whately's appendage:
"... but he who is governed by that maxim is not an honest man."
---- As Andy Amago notes, in a world where the being is the appearance,
there is no discernible distinction between a man who is governed by that
maxim,
and one who is still honest but does not. Indeed, the paradoxical side is that
if you _want_ to be honest, you fail.
(Remember he was a Bishop).
Cheers,
JL
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