About this quote

Living with integrity means stripping away the complicated excuses we invent to justify bad behavior. We often know the correct path instantly, but we let social pressure or convenience muddy our judgment. Why do you hesitate to speak up when you hear a falsehood? It takes courage to choose silence over a convenient lie, but it is the only way to keep your self-respect intact. Commit to this simple rule for one day and watch how much useless drama drops out of your life.

When to use it

• You are asked by your manager to exaggerate the performance metrics in a quarterly report. You recall these words and decide to present the actual, unvarnished numbers instead.
• During a family dinner, your relatives start spreading an unverified rumor about your cousin. Instead of joining the gossip to fit in, you choose to stay silent.
• You are selling your used car and notice a minor, intermittent engine noise. You disclose the issue to the buyer even though it might lower the final selling price.
• A classmate offers you a copy of the final exam questions they got from an older student. You turn down the offer because deep down you know it ruins the value of your education.