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〃He never professed the thing he intended not； nor promised what
he believed out of his power； nor failed in the performance of
anything that was in his power to fulfil。〃
Wellington was a severe admirer of truth。 An illustration may be
given。 When afflicted by deafness he consulted a celebrated
aurist； who； after trying all remedies in vain； determined； as a
last resource； to inject into the ear a strong solution of
caustic。 It caused the most intense pain； but the patient bore it
with his usual equanimity。 The family physician accidentally
calling one day； found the Duke with flushed cheeks and bloodshot
eyes； and when he rose he staggered about like a drunken man。 The
doctor asked to be permitted to look at his ear； and then he found
that a furious inflammation was going on； which； if not
immediately checked； must shortly reach the brain and kill him。
Vigorous remedies were at once applied； and the inflammation was
checked。 But the hearing of that ear was completely destroyed。
When the aurist heard of the danger his patient had run； through
the violence of the remedy he had employed； he hastened to Apsley
House to express his grief and mortification； but the Duke merely
said： 〃Do not say a word more about ityou did all for the
best。〃 The aurist said it would be his ruin when it became known
that he had been the cause of so much suffering and danger to his
Grace。 〃But nobody need know anything about it： keep your own
counsel； and； depend upon it； I won't say a word to any one。〃
〃Then your Grace will allow me to attend you as usual； which will
show the public that you have not withdrawn your confidence from
me？〃 〃No；〃 replied the Duke； kindly but firmly； 〃I can't do that；
for that would be a lie。〃 He would not act a falsehood any more
than he would speak one。 （9）
Another illustration of duty and truthfulness； as exhibited in the
fulfilment of a promise； may be added from the life of Blucher。
When he was hastening with his army over bad roads to the help of
Wellington； on the 18th of June； 1815； he encouraged his troops by
words and gestures。 〃Forwards； childrenforwards！〃 〃It is
impossible； it can't be done；〃 was the answer。 Again and again he
urged them。 〃Children； we must get on； you may say it can't be
done； but it MUST be done！ I have promised my brother Wellington
PROMISED； do you hear？ You wouldn't have me BREAK MY WORD！〃
And it was done。
Truth is the very bond of society； without which it must cease to
exist； and dissolve into anarchy and chaos。 A household cannot be
governed by lying； nor can a nation。 Sir Thomas Browne once
asked； 〃Do the devils lie？〃 〃No；〃 was his answer； 〃for then even
hell could not subsist。〃 No considerations can justify the
sacrifice of truth； which ought to be sovereign in all the
relations of life。
Of all mean vices； perhaps lying is the meanest。 It is in some
cases the offspring of perversity and vice； and in many others of
sheer moral cowardice。 Yet many persons think so lightly of it
that they will order their servants to lie for them； nor can they
feel surprised if； after such ignoble instruction； they find their
servants lying for themselves。
Sir Harry Wotton's description of an ambassador as 〃an honest man
sent to lie abroad for the benefit of his country；〃 though meant
as a satire； brought him into disfavour with James I。 when it
became published； for an adversary quoted it as a principle of the
king's religion。 That it was not Wotton's real view of the duty
of an honest man； is obvious from the lines quoted at the head of
this chapter； on 'The Character of a Happy Life；' in which he
eulogises the man
〃Whose armour is his honest thought；
And simple truth his utmost skill。〃
But lying assumes many formssuch as diplomacy； expediency； and
moral reservation； and； under one guise or another； it is found
more or less pervading all classes of society。 Sometimes it
assumes the form of equivocation or moral dodgingtwisting and
so stating the things said as to convey a false impressiona
kind of lying which a Frenchman once described as 〃walking round
about the truth。〃
There are even men of narrow minds and dishonest natures； who
pride themselves upon their jesuitical cleverness in equivocation；
in their serpent…wise shirking of the truth and getting out of
moral back…doors； in order to hide their real opinions and evade
the consequences of holding and openly professing them。
Institutions or systems based upon any such expedients must
necessarily prove false and hollow。 〃Though a lie be ever so well
dressed；〃 says George Herbert； 〃it is ever overcome。〃 Downright
lying； though bolder and more vicious； is even less contemptible
than such kind of shuffling and equivocation。
Untruthfulness exhibits itself in many other forms： in reticency
on the one hand； or exaggeration on the other； in disguise or
concealment； in pretended concurrence in others opinions； in
assuming an attitude of conformity which is deceptive； in making
promises； or allowing them to be implied； which are never intended
to be performed； or even in refraining from speaking the truth
when to do so is a duty。 There are also those who are all things
to all men； who say one thing and do another； like Bunyan's Mr。
Facing…both…ways； only deceiving themselves when they think they
are deceiving othersand who； being essentially insincere； fail
to evoke confidence； and invariably in the end turn out failures；
if not impostors。
Others are untruthful in their pretentiousness； and in assuming
merits which they do not really possess。 The truthful man is； on
the contrary； modest； and makes no parade of himself and his
deeds。 When Pitt was in his last illness； the news reached
England of the great deeds of Wellington in India。 〃The more I
hear of his exploits；〃 said Pitt； 〃the more I admire the modesty
with which he receives the praises he merits for them。 He is the
only man I ever knew that was not vain of what he had done； and
yet had so much reason to be so。〃
So it is said of Faraday by Professor Tyndall； that 〃pretence of
all kinds； whether in life or in philosophy； was hateful to him。〃
Dr。 Marshall Hall was a man of like spiritcourageously
truthful； dutiful； and manly。 One of his most intimate friends
has said of him that； wherever he met with untruthfulness or
sinister motive； he would expose it； saying〃I neither will； nor
can； give my consent to a lie。〃 The question； 〃right or wrong；〃
once decided in his own mind； the right was followed； no matter
what the sacrifice or the difficultyneither expediency nor
inclination weighing one jot in the balance。
There was no virtue that Dr。 Arnold laboured more sedulously to
instil into young men than the virtue of truthfulness； as being
the manliest of virtues； as indeed the very basis of all true
manliness。 He designated truthfulness as 〃moral transparency；〃
and he valued