There is no place for honor in this world.
In warfare, there is no prize for fighting honorably. Soldiers who are struggling to survive on the battlefield have no use for morals or ethics, those relics from the days of mounted knights and trebuchets. If an opportunity presents itself, it must be taken, no matter how immoral or dishonorably it may seem. Your conscience may punish you, but better that than being dead.
In business, honor will lead to your downfall. As long as you can stay within the legal limits, you must use every tool at your disposal to ensure your success, even if it means driving all your competitors out of business. There is no prize for second place, and when a false move or missed opportunity can destroy you utterly, there is no room for doubt. Take what you are able and do not trouble yourself with the consequences for others – your survival is the number one priority.
In the social world, if you are the type of person who wastes time on frivolous activities, honor is nothing more than a way of showing weakness. If you are a righteous and just person who strives to do good, you will be mercilessly taken advantage of by your so-called “friends.”
Be resolute in this, as in all things. Honor is dead. Let it fade away into obscurity as you rise to power.
Good morning, Sir.
You must speak tongue-in-cheek in this post, else your words contradict those of your introductory remarks: “honesty is the most valued of all currencies, and the only one that has any worth here.”
How can honor die if “honesty is the most valued of all currencies?” Are not honor and honesty inexorably chained?
Honor, to me, means having a combination of integrity of morals and desire to do what is believed to be the “right” thing. One can have honesty without honor, as I do by being truthful without showing respect, just as one can have honor without honesty, as moral idealists lie to themselves while claiming to fully support causes that, while noble, are based on…
No, this is going nowhere. Suffice it to say that I believe honesty is a fundamental part of life, and being honorable does not necessarily require you to be honest and sincere about it.
And now I am second-guessing myself yet again. Thank you for your comment; any opportunity to rethink my frame of mind is greatly appreciated. Adopt, adapt, and improve: the three first steps on the path to whatever one’s goal may be.
Good morning, Sir:
“Honor, to me, means having a combination of integrity of morals and desire to do what is believe to be the ‘right’ thing.” Your very words belie your post, dear man, for if indeed honor is a mix of integrity of morals and the desire to do the right thing…honor cannot possibly die.
Perhaps we are quibbling over semantics here. Is it your thought that honor exists only if someone calls an act worthy of honor? Are we at odds over the concept of the “right thing” perhaps? In that case, at times I will agree, but on the basic principle I cannot stay. Honor will never die. Think of it this way: Truth is truth, no matter whether anyone believes it or not. So with honor. An honorable deed (who judges?, now you may say) whether even observed, whether disdained, or whether marked by the issue of a medal will always be honor.
I wish you a good day.
Looking back over this post yet again, I admit that you are right. The actions of a few do not define the actions of the majority. Just because I feel that some of our ethical and moral codes are outdated and ultimately worthless does not mean that honor is dead.
Giving honor or showing respect or acting for the benefit of everyone… these I understand, and agree will be around as long as humanity continues. My original post was fundamentally flawed, and I shall pay more attention to what I write in the future.
Perhaps my original intention was just to reflect my own personality, my own lack of conventional moral values and different perspectives on “right” and “wrong.” I cannot remember.
Oh, my goodness, Sir. My comments were not meant to say your post was flawed; sometimes, though, there are different ways of looking at a subject–as you well know.
It helps to talk about things…assists in thinking and in actually determining one’s basic makeup. It is profitable to say words aloud or to write them on paper or tap them onto a computer screen. At least it is for me.
And then when we are so fortunate as to be able to discuss our thoughts with another–get a little feedback–we are twice blessed.
I’m glad we have “met.” :)
I was not accusing you of anything – your comments led me to view what I had written in a different, and more productive, perspective. I am always grateful for an outside view on the things that fall from my brain and are transcribed into words on this keyboard.
Again, thank you for taking the time to leave your thoughts and comments here. I shall look back upon this exchange to remind me to try to look at things differently from time to time.
I am also glad to have “met” you.