The virtue of honesty is really an old topic. For some, it seems too antiquated to be mentioned. But it sparked big controversy in my family recently.

A couple of weeks ago, my cousin, who has just got her first job for half a year, found out that she had made a small mistake in a document sent to the client. On the one hand, she was very reluctant to admit her mistake for fear of being blamed and losing face. On the other hand, her conscience was reminding her to be honest. Wrestling with the question of whether she should tell the truth or not, she asked members of our family for advice.

While some elders insisted that my cousin should be honest, a majority believed that honesty was not the priority in this case. My aunt was representative. From her point of view, it was better not to mention the mistake because it was only a small mistake and admitting it would only result in her boss mistrusting her ability. As a supporter of Darwinian theory, she regards society as a huge jungle of competition, in which connections and being "smart" mean everything. Although honesty is important, it isn't always the best way to solve problems. In other words, honesty should depend on the "circumstances".

My aunt isn't alone. As a matter of fact, reflections of her thoughts can be found in many cases in China. The professor, who took advantage of his students' research, chose honesty "according to the circumstance". The vendors, who sold rainbow trout as salmon, just did not think honesty was more important than profits. The enterprises making false statements to the public, just put honesty in second place.

But there are consequences. For individuals, dishonesty not only harms us by destroying our own human dignity, but also leads us into a vicious circle of cheating one another, which produces social mistrust. Because of an increase in wickedness and mistrust, the hearts of many will grow cold. With skepticism and doubt, we may end up having no sense of safety and assurance.

As for enterprises, dishonesty only brings about a credibility gap, which greatly increases transaction costs and ultimately deters further development. In the economic sense, credibility is the foundation of a civil society. Due to a lack of credibility, enterprises will find it hard to survive in the long run, especially when they come into increasingly frequent contacts with their international counterparts following China's WTO entry.

In fact, statistics already show that a credibility gap in enterprises in China is endangering the normal operation of business.

Later, this will have a huge impact on the nation as a whole. At the outset, dishonesty in individuals may shatter the sense of loyalty, honesty and responsibility and destroy the foundation of social justice. Moreover, given the fact that dishonesty in enterprises increases transaction costs and prolongs the business cycle, the economic development of the country will eventually be stifled. In addition, the credibility gap will cause China to face many difficulties in international competition and attracting overseas investment.

Honesty is the prerequisite of trust and credibility. Indeed, one cannot trust another deeply without believing that the interaction between them will be carried on at a high level of honesty. Honest behaviour also enhances reputation. However, just as the difference between true and false cannot be blurred by "circumstances", honesty should not be chosen according to "circumstance".

As the whole nation is in the grip of a grave crisis of credibility, there is a pressing need to prioritize honesty. The virtue of honesty must become a priority for us.

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