Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Ah! yes, I know: those who see me rarely trust my word: I must look too intelligent to keep it.

If you're honest about things, people will trust you, even if you're a bad guy. That says something about where we are and who we are as people.

I try not to lie to people - the only way to control the way you're perceived is to tell the truth.

Do not be deceived by a man's eloquence; rather whoever fulfils trusts and refrains from impugning people's honour is a real man.

Never chase a lie. Let it alone, and it will run itself to death. I can work out a good character much faster than anyone can lie me out of it

Trustable words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not trustable.

Since in the long run deception is likely to be found out, your character had better not only seem good, but be it.

The greatest asset, even in this country, is not oil and gas. It's integrity. Everyone is searching for it, asking, 'Who can I do business with that I can trust?'

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Honesty will never break you.

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.

If you want to be thought a liar, always tell the truth.

A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.

Sincerity: if you can fake it, you've got it made.

Everybody is watching you every minute anyways. If they think the message you're sending out is phony, they're going to say, 'Who does he think he is?' It's again good business. But it is also an obligation.

People often think I'm a faker, but I'm usually honest, in a certain way - in such a way that often nobody believes me!

Fellows who have rascally faces have only one course to take, and that is to remain honest; otherwise, they would be arrested off-hand.

If you're faking it, people will know, and it's going to turn a lot of people off.

Integrity is everything to me.

People can smell when things aren't genuine.

People can smell a fake.

Dishonesty, lack of integrity catches up with you.

I don't like people who speak or think in terms of gaining anybody's confidence. If one's actions are honest, one does not need the predated confidence of others, only their rational perception. The person who craves a moral blank check of that kind, has dishonest intentions, whether he admits it to himself or not.

The nicer I am, the more people think I'm lying.

Truth telling is the first building block of character -- a quality that seems to be getting rarer and rarer in all-forgiving America.