--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ignorant men imagine that dishonesty is a…" description: "\"“Ignorant men imagine that dishonesty is a short cut to prosperity. July Twenty-First. HONESTY is the surest way to success. The clay at last comes whe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/james-allen-1607_clear-conscience_ignorant-men-imagine-that-dishonesty-is_2145672.png" --- # Ignorant men imagine that dishonesty is a short cut to… ![“Ignorant men imagine that dishonesty is a short cut to prosperity. July Twenty-First. HONESTY is the surest way to success. The clay at last comes when the dishonest man repents in sorrow and suffering; but no man ever needs to repent of having been honest. Even when the honest man fails--as he…” quote by James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/james-allen-1607_clear-conscience_ignorant-men-imagine-that-dishonesty-is_2145672.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/james-allen-1607_clear-conscience_ignorant-men-imagine-that-dishonesty-is_2145672.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/james-allen-1607_clear-conscience_ignorant-men-imagine-that-dishonesty-is_2145672.png) > ““Ignorant men imagine that dishonesty is a short cut to prosperity. July Twenty-First. HONESTY is the surest way to success. The clay at last comes when the dishonest man repents in sorrow and suffering; but no man ever needs to repent of having been honest. Even when the honest man fails--as he does sometimes through lacking other of those pillars, such as energy, economy, or system--his failure is not the grievous thing that it is to the dishonest mem, for he can always rejoice in the fact that he has never defrauded a fellow-being. Even in his darkest hour he finds repose in a clear conscience. The dishonest man is morally short-sighted.”” [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Honesty is a reliable path to lasting success, while dishonesty offers only temporary gain and eventual regret. **In simple terms:** Honesty leads to true success; cheating fails. Key Takeaway Choose integrity over shortcuts. Themes integrity success morality Mood reflective serious Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - business decisions - personal relationships - leadership - financial planning Key Concepts conscience short‑term gain long‑term fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - Can you recall a time when honesty helped you despite a setback? - What costs do shortcuts impose on trust? A Different Perspective Dishonesty may seem advantageous short‑term but harms reputation and peace of mind. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-conscience/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Darkest hour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkest-hour/) [Dishonest Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonest-man-829339/) [Dishonesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty/) [Dishonesty Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty-short-4489151/) [Honest man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-man/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Way to success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-to-success/) ## Related quotes > [“The world is going to turn upside down in a way that the honest man will live uncomfortably -- while the dishonest man will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-world-is-going-to-turn-upside-down-in-a-way-that-the-honest-man/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [A dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/a-dishonest-man-you-can-always-trust-to-be-dishonest/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest... Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sparrow/i-m-dishonest-and-a-dishonest-man-you-can-always-trust-to-be/) [Jack Sparrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sparrow/) > [Me, I'm dishonest, and you can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you have to watch out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/me-i-m-dishonest-and-you-can-always-trust-a-dishonest-man-to-be/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-dishonest-man-spreads-strife-and-a-whisperer-separates-close-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sir, I do not call a gamester a dishonest man; but I call him an unsociable man, an unprofitable man. Gaming is a mode…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/sir-i-do-not-call-a-gamester-a-dishonest-man-but-i-call-him-an/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A man without enemies is a dishonest man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-without-enemies-is-a-dishonest-man/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...a dishonest man in a dishonest world; a morally ambiguous observer of a morally ambiguous universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-bajaj/a-dishonest-man-in-a-dishonest-world-a-morally-ambiguous-observer-of/) [Karan Bajaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-bajaj/) > [A basically dishonest man can survive longer in the church or the classroom than he can in the grain exchange or the furniture business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-a-rogge/a-basically-dishonest-man-can-survive-longer-in-the-church-or-the/) [Benjamin A. Rogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-a-rogge/) > [“The true punishment for the dishonest man is not that he is not trusted, but that he can trust no one else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-rodden/the-true-punishment-for-the-dishonest-man-is-not-that-he-is-not/) [Sean Rodden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-rodden/) > [The man who fails to give fair service during the hours for which he is paid is dishonest. The man who is not willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/the-man-who-fails-to-give-fair-service-during-the-hours-for-which-he/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [The intellectual finds it reassuring to say that the businessman gets his money by luck; or monopoly, or exploitation, or dishonesty, or what have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-a-rogge/the-intellectual-finds-it-reassuring-to-say-that-the-businessman-gets/) [Benjamin A. Rogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-a-rogge/) > [A man who makes a one-dollar profit on his expense account is dishonest. A man who loses five cents on one is a damned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-fowler/a-man-who-makes-a-one-dollar-profit-on-his-expense-account-is/) [Gene Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-fowler/) > [Bid the dishonest man mend himself; if he mend, he is no longer dishonest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/bid-the-dishonest-man-mend-himself-if-he-mend-he-is-no-longer/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [On every dishonest man, there are two watchmen, his possessions, and his way of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umar/on-every-dishonest-man-there-are-two-watchmen-his-possessions-and-his/) [Umar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umar/) ## More by James Allen > [A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-person-is-limited-only-by-the-thoughts-that-he-chooses/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbours; that which it loves, and also that which it fears;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/the-soul-attracts-that-which-it-secretly-harbours-that-which-it-loves/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“All achievements, whether in the business, intellectual, or spiritual world, are the result of definitely directed thought, are governed by the same law and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/all-achievements-whether-in-the-business-intellectual-or-spiritual/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“Cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. 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It is a mystic ladder which reaches from earth to heaven, from error to Truth, from pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/spiritual-meditation-is-the-pathway-to-divinity-it-is-a-mystic-ladder/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) [Explore all 220 James Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) ## More Clear conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [A clear conscience is the softest pillow in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/a-clear-conscience-is-the-softest-pillow-in-the-world/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/there-is-only-one-way-to-achieve-happiness-on-this-terrestrial-ball/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“We must have clean air and water, and beautiful natural foods for everyone, everywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-must-have-clean-air-and-water-and-beautiful-natural-foods-for/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/what-can-be-added-to-the-happiness-of-a-man-who-is-in-health-out-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [There is nothing in the world that could make me turn from the law. With a clear conscience, I am prepared to answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djemal-pasha/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-that-could-make-me-turn-from-the-law/) [Djemal Pasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djemal-pasha/) > [“I know that no one is my judge. I live according to my own conscience and value discernments which are governed by Holy Spirit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishi-mccoy/i-know-that-no-one-is-my-judge-i-live-according-to-my-own-conscience/) [Mishi McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mishi-mccoy/) > [People who have tried it, tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/people-who-have-tried-it-tell-me-that-a-clear-conscience-makes-you/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [I know the rules and have a clear conscience. I'm an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/i-know-the-rules-and-have-a-clear-conscience-i-m-an-atheist/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [Veganism gives us all the opportunity to say what we "stand for" in life- the ideal of healthy, humane living. Add decades to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-watson/veganism-gives-us-all-the-opportunity-to-say-what-we-stand-for-in/) [Donald Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-watson/) > [Regardless of nationality, all men are brothers. God is "our Father who art in heaven." The commandment "Thou shalt not kill" is unconditional and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-salmon/regardless-of-nationality-all-men-are-brothers-god-is-our-father-who/) [Ben Salmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-salmon/) > [A consoling thought: what matters is not what we do, but the spirit in which we do it. Others suffer too; so much so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/a-consoling-thought-what-matters-is-not-what-we-do-but-the-spirit-in/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Well this would have been a much more sribualous weekend. In any case spring is well in hand and summer is at the doorstep.We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-this-would-have-been-a-much-more-sribualous-weekend-in-any-case/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I know for sure is that it's only when you make the process your goal that the big dream can follow. 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