--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honesty is not only the deepest policy…" description: "\"Honesty is not only the deepest policy, but the highest wisdom; since, however difficult it may be for integrity to get on, it is a thousand times more..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/charles-caleb-colton-270_difficult_honesty-is-not-only-the-deepest-policy-b_442881.jpg" --- # Honesty is not only the deepest policy, but the highest… ![“Honesty is not only the deepest policy, but the highest wisdom; since, however difficult it may be for integrity to get on, it is a thousand times more difficult for knavery to get off; and no error is more fatal than that of those who think that Virtue has no other reward because they have heard…” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/charles-caleb-colton-270_difficult_honesty-is-not-only-the-deepest-policy-b_442881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/charles-caleb-colton-270_difficult_honesty-is-not-only-the-deepest-policy-b_442881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/charles-caleb-colton-270_difficult_honesty-is-not-only-the-deepest-policy-b_442881.jpg) > “Honesty is not only the deepest policy, but the highest wisdom; since, however difficult it may be for integrity to get on, it is a thousand times more difficult for knavery to get off; and no error is more fatal than that of those who think that Virtue has no other reward because they have heard that she is her own.” [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Integrity is the highest wisdom; dishonesty is harder to escape and more damaging. **In simple terms:** Integrity is wise; dishonesty is harmful. Key Takeaway Choose honesty even when difficult. Themes ethics integrity wisdom consequences Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business decisions - personal relationships - legal matters - leadership Key Concepts moral philosophy virtue ethics Questions to Reflect On - What costs have you faced for honesty? - Can integrity be taught? A Different Perspective Societal pressure may reward dishonesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deepest Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deepest-policy-3880515/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-integrity-3880513/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Honesty Deepest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty-deepest-3880516/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Knavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knavery/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Sand Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sand-time/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-difficult-3880514/) ## Related quotes > [When one's function is to teach the loftiest wisdom, it is difficult to resist the temptation to believe that until you have spoken, nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/when-one-s-function-is-to-teach-the-loftiest-wisdom-it-is-difficult/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [To know how to grow old is the master work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/to-know-how-to-grow-old-is-the-master-work-of-wisdom-and-one-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [It is much easier to ruin a man of principle than a man of none, for he may be ruined through his scruples. 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Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/none-are-so-fond-of-secrets-as-those-who-do-not-mean-to-keep-them/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/ignorance-lies-at-the-bottom-of-all-human-knowledge-and-the-deeper-we/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-owe-almost-all-our-knowledge-not-to-those-who-have-agreed-but-to/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/metaphysicians-have-been-learning-their-lessons-for-the-last-four/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Explore all 778 Charles Caleb Colton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## More Difficult quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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