LIVING WITH INTEGRITY

A life lived with Integrity;
- Even if it lacks the trappings of fame and fortune,
is a shinning star in whose light,
others may follow for many years to come.

The above quotation written by the great American motivational speaker, writer, and best selling author, Denis Waitley, reminds me so much of my good friend and relative who recently passed away after a long and rewarding life.

For as long as I have known him, I have carried a profound sense of respect and honor for the depth of integrity and consistency he radiated. I have no doubt whatsoever that these sentiments are universally held by all who have had the good fortune to share some time with him. In fact I am confident that you will have to search far and wide to find a single person who thinks otherwise.

Integrity has been described as comprising a personal inner sense of wholeness derived from honesty and consistent uprightness of character. By this definition, he stands out as an examplary example, worthy of any amount of dissemination. He was a man of peace who genuinely believed and lived the life of peace. He was a man of honor and respect to whom respect and honor was enthusiastically returned by all, friend and foe alike. He was a man of few words, but whose words spoke volumes, and all sincere people listened. He lived a life of examples, whose actions are the subject of lessons and repetition in the homes of those who earnestly sought a life of goodwill and harmony. He never wrote any books, nor made any life- changing discoveries, nor held any public positions, but by his very life, his stature, his example, his commitment and his consistency, he is worthy of the highest degrees of recognition.

Some people have succeeded in amassing fortunes, gaining public recognition and acquiring all the latest trappings that their good fortune can attract. Yet others, by dint of an innate ability of persuasion, intimidation and deception, have gained great notoriety and positions in society. Their names and titles are readily broadcast to the public and their faces are equally recognized by all. But in the end, neither their fortunes nor faces nor names will survive the onslaught of time. But that is not the case with the man who has lived a life of Integrity. Even as time passes, and the memory of the man fades, he will remain an example which every parent will use to teach their child the correct way to live. His name will be a reference that others will use to test against their own actions.

He will indeed live on, in the minds of all of us who have been blessed with his presence. There will be no buildings bearing his name, no medal to hang on the wall, no bank account of any consequence and certainly no massive marble mausoleum inscribed with his coat of arms with or without a perpetual flame. These are but trappings that will fade with posterity. But the good name will never fade. In the same way his father before him is still fondly recalled by those who knew him, so too will his name be remembered by all of us.

This above all else is the treasure for posterity, and I for one, will be forever grateful for having known my friend and relative.

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To thine own self be true;
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
…..William Shakespeare

It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe;
That lures him to evil ways.
….Buddha

The time is always right, to do what is right.
…Martin Luther King, Jr.

Live so that your friends can defend you,
….. but never have to.
….Arnold H. Glasow

To know what is right and not do it,
Is the worst cowardice,
….Confucius

Laws control the lesser man.
Integrity controls the greater one.
…… Chinese Proverb

If you have integrity, nothing else matters;
If you don’t have integrity, nothing else helps.
…..Alan Simpson


Integrity is the essence of everything successful.
…….R. Buckminster Fuller


If everyone were clothed with Integrity;
If every heart were just, frank, kindly;
then the other virtues would be well-nigh useless.
……..Jean Baptiste Molière

One of the truest tests of Integrity
is its blunt refusal to be compromised.
…….Chinua Achebe

Honor your commitments with integrity.
…….Les Brown


Nothing so completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself,
than straightforward and simple Integrity in another.
…….Charles Caleb Colton

A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.
……..Baltasar Gracian