Window or Mirror?

“Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly. And, if you speak, speak accordingly.”

1. Honesty and genuineness: honesty in the expression of true or deep feelings

The first virtue of really great men is that they are sincere. They eradicate hypocrisy from their hearts. They bravely unveil their weaknesses, their doubts, their defects… - Anatole France

Sincerity is impossible unless it pervades the whole being, and the pretense of it saps the very foundation of character. - James Russell Lowell

He who is sincere has the easiest task in the world, for, truth being always consistent with itself, he is put to no trouble about his words and actions; it is like traveling on a plain road, which is sure to bring you to your journey’s end better than byways in which many lose themselves. - John Tillotson

To this point we have run on reason, and full steam ahead. Here we find that the ship of character will run aground without strong emotional content. Sincerity goes beyond honesty and implies the manner in which we should render truth to ourselves and our fellow man.

At the end of his sentence, Franklin combines this virtue with Silence. It is far easier to relate the truth, and to do so kindly, when deep thought is used before the mouth is opened. A further revelation is revealed in the middle of the thought; what you think is what you tend to portray (or speak).

My idea of sincerity is as follows:

Seek to understand and purify your own motives
Beyond the healthy psychological effects of self-truth, you will find that looking deeply at your own motives will provide a broader (and more open) view of others actions.

Make consistent effort not to hurt people, but to be forever honest
When the truth must be said, say it; nicely. Never contrive to hurt another through word or action, and attempt to think from cause to effect, before speaking or acting.

“What a man says drunk, he has thought sober.”
We should not avoid negative or cruel thoughts only because they could get us into trouble. We should actively seek to drive out negative thought in order to better focus on the optimistic Art of Possibility.

Be who you appear to be, and improve on that always
”A man who tells the truth does not require a good memory”. Again, not in self-defense, but toward the positive. We should each attempt to clearly show who we are – so that we can improve on a clear state of being – not attempting to go somewhere without admitting where we are today.