‽istis reclaims integrity (weekending September 13th 2020)
This week ‽istis seeks to find and reclaim integrity
– defined by CS Lewis apparently as: “…doing the right thing, even when no one
is watching.”[i]
To which ‽istis wishes to add: ‘…doing the
right thing, including when someone is watching or listening…’
especially if those watchers or listeners happened to be Bob Woodward, the UK
Government’s Cabinet, the Tory Party, Parliament, Maroš Šefčovič, the EU, the
UK electorate, Nancy Pelosi, the great-again American people (assuming this ‘re-greatening’
has happened by now after the best four years in American history, ever, under a
President who has done more than any other to… etc, etc. ), the (Great) British
people…
The online Cambridge dictionary perhaps helps us to
‘define our terms’, offering the following three meanings for the word ‘integrity’
– with some interesting examples[ii]
- and some ‽istis-added commentary:
‽ ‘the
quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to
change’ – with the example on the website being: ‘No one doubted that the
president was a man of the highest integrity’. ‽istis
kids you not; and how those lexicographers may possibly have chuckled as they
typed that.
‽ ‘someone’s
high artistic standards or standards of doing their job, and that person’s
determination not to lower those standards’ – example given: ‘His comments
cast a slur on the integrity of his employees’. And ‽istis imagines Gavin
Williamson perhaps looking deeply apologetic as he found out (just in the past
few days) that the algorithm had produced that statement. …Oh,
and also, then this week, Sir Jonathan Jones resigned.
‽ ‘the
quality of being whole and complete’…
“ and the demands of ‘Cabinet collective responsibility’ maybe forced the
mirage-trickery of private and public views almost seeming congruent – whilst awkward
and tortuous responses seemed to work hard to deflect the laser-guided questions of the
interviewer...
And this has led ‽istis, (wary of
William James’ words: “A great many people think they are thinking when they
are merely rearranging their prejudices”[iii])
to consider some further ‘inspirational’ quotations:
·
“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you
look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t
have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If
you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and
lazy.” Warren Buffett (Pistis wonders whether ‘weirdos and misfits’ may
be no exception - and whether the same might be said if ‘hire’ were to be
replaced with ‘elect’…?)
·
“Whoever is
careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important
matters.” Albert Einstein
·
“Live your life in
such a way that you'll be remembered for your kindness, compassion, fairness,
character, benevolence, and a force for good who had much respect for life, in
general.” Germany Kent
And if we all (leaders and the rich and powerful not excepted)
could somehow manage to heed and ‘deed’ these words, imagine how different the
world could be.
© Pistis
NB: further reflections and comments linked to this
week’s theme and past blog
entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t necessarily
indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’: @Pistis_wonders
Please do consider following on Twitter and engaging or commenting positively whether you agree or disagree!
[i] https://www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/30-inspirational-quotes-on-integrity/#:~:text=30%20Inspirational%20Quotes%20On%20Integrity%201%20%22With%20integrity%2C,words.%22%20Anonymous.%204%20%22Integrity%20is%20choosing%20courage%20
