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Honesty in Silence

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · May 23, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 21.

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Honesty in Silence

THE honest man will prove true to his character in silence as well as in speech. Neither by word nor look, nor even by silence, will he give his support to falsehood or cast his influence on the side of error. Speaking of this high grade of honesty, the United Presbyterian of Jan. 4, 1912, says:—
If Jesus was “one of the best men who ever lived,” he must have been truthful, and a really truthful man must be as candid in silence as in speech. Silence that is not truthful can not be golden, and we all believe that the very silence of Jesus was golden. That is, we can not think of him as deliberately permitting his disciples to be deceived when by a statement or a word he might have set them right. We do not believe that the Great Teacher by his silence ever permitted his disciples to indulge a false hope. On this principle the very silence of Jesus becomes eloquent.
How many there are in the world who consider it entirely proper to falsify or create wrong impressions provided they can do so without a positive declaration, or in a manner to shield themselves. The truly honest heart will not adopt these tactics of the deceiver.