--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honesty is the best policy ; a policy is…" description: "\"Honesty is the best policy ; a policy is, after all, a strategy for living in the polis in the city.\" — Samuel R. Delany" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/samuel-r-delany-2591_cities_honesty-is-the-best-policy-a-policy-is-a_1896925.png" --- # Honesty is the best policy ; a policy is, after all, a… ![“Honesty is the best policy ; a policy is, after all, a strategy for living in the polis in the city.” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/samuel-r-delany-2591_cities_honesty-is-the-best-policy-a-policy-is-a_1896925.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/samuel-r-delany-2591_cities_honesty-is-the-best-policy-a-policy-is-a_1896925.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/samuel-r-delany-2591_cities_honesty-is-the-best-policy-a-policy-is-a_1896925.png) > “Honesty is the best policy ; a policy is, after all, a strategy for living in the polis in the city.” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## 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 strategic way to live ethically within society. **In simple terms:** Honesty is a living strategy. Key Takeaway Practice truthful living. Themes ethics strategy society Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - community building - leadership - personal development Key Concepts political theory philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does honesty shape civic life? - When might strategic honesty be compromised? A Different Perspective Honesty may conflict with self‑preservation in hostile environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-policy/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Honesty Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty-best/) [Honesty is the best policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty-is-the-best-policy/) [Living Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-polis-2775469/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Policy Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-policy-1118688/) [Policy Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-strategy-2775468/) [Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polis/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) ## Related quotes > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [By elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/by-elimination-dishonesty-is-the-second-best-policy/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Honesty is the best policy, says the familiar axiom; but people who are honest on that principle defraud no one but themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/honesty-is-the-best-policy-says-the-familiar-axiom-but-people-who-are/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honesty-is-the-best-policy-but-insanity-is-a-better-defense/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is an old adage that honesty is the best policy-this applies to public as well as private life-to States as well as individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-an-old-adage-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-this-applies-to/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Honesty is the best policy in international relations, interpersonal relations, labor, business, education, family and crime control because truth is the only thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/honesty-is-the-best-policy-in-international-relations-interpersonal/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [In both metaphysics and art, honesty is the best policy. Keep it clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/in-both-metaphysics-and-art-honesty-is-the-best-policy-keep-it-clean/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Even in the business of corporations honesty is the best policy, and the companies that have acted in accordance with the highest standard, other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/even-in-the-business-of-corporations-honesty-is-the-best-policy-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Honesty is the best policy; but he who is governed by that maxim is not an honest man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/honesty-is-the-best-policy-but-he-who-is-governed-by-that-maxim-is/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Honesty is the best policy, I will stick to that. The good shall have my hand and heart, but the bad neither foot nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/honesty-is-the-best-policy-i-will-stick-to-that-the-good-shall-have/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Honesty is the best policy, in love as in law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/honesty-is-the-best-policy-in-love-as-in-law/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [In the long run, I believe that honesty is definitely the best policy. One can get away by being dishonest for a short term,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-dev/in-the-long-run-i-believe-that-honesty-is-definitely-the-best-policy/) [Kapil Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-dev/) > [Honesty is always the best policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/honesty-is-always-the-best-policy/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“Many people call the guiding policy “the strategy” and stop there. This is a mistake. Strategy is about action, about doing something. The kernel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/many-people-call-the-guiding-policy-the-strategy-and-stop-there-this/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [ The blurring of the line between policy and strategy\] encouraged soldiers to make the preposterous claim that policy should be subservient to their conduct… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-blurring-of-the-line-between-policy-and-strategy-encouraged/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) ## More by Samuel R. Delany > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [What you are will make you what you will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/what-you-are-will-make-you-what-you-will-become/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“People probably do hear watches go tic-tok. But I’m sure my childhood clock went tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic…Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/people-probably-do-hear-watches-go-tic-tok-but-i-m-sure-my-childhood/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“I wanted to get out, Vyme, to keep going and not be trapped, to be free… only I was cruel. I had the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-wanted-to-get-out-vyme-to-keep-going-and-not-be-trapped-to-be-free/) [Samuel R. 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Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. When what is and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/when-what-is-is-congruent-to-what-is-supposed-the-reaction-is/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) [Explore all 158 Samuel R. Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## More Cities quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. 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I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,153 Cities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Honesty is the best policy ; a policy is, after all, a strategy for living in the polis in the city.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel R. 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