Integrity

"If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless, since their chief purpose is to make us bear with patience the injustices of our fellows." - Moliere (Jean Baptiste Poquelin)

"Does one's integrity ever lie in what he is not able to do? I think that usually it does, for free will does not mean one will, but many wills conflicting in one man. Freedom cannot be conceived simply." - Flannery O'Connor

What is integrity exactly? Webster uses words like complete, unbroken, whole, entire, unimpaired, sound, upright, honest, and sincere to define the term. Piece of cake, right? Not likely. Integrity isn't a virtue that you just pick up one day. It's a constant struggle and strain to pursue, and I'm not sure we ever really achieve it. It's more like we strive toward achieving it, never fully obtaining it, but hopefully draw closer each day.

Integrity is an important virtue because it is foundational. Many other virtues rest upon the foundation of integrity. Without integrity so much else just falls apart. It's also an important virtue because of what it produces in our lives. Integrity guides us in our decisions toward right actions and outcomes.

"Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within." - Psalm 51:6

"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them." - Proverbs 11:3