A person's word, quite literally, is his word of honor. Personally, I am just as willing to bend or stretch the truth as the next man ... indeed, of times "the truth" is entirely a matter of personal opinion and viewpoint. But when a person offers his or her hand to another and "shakes on it", or even simply looks another in the eye and pledges his or her word that something is a certain way, or swears something that will be done, then that is the formal pledge of the swearer's word of honor. If one pledges his or her word in such a fashion and then breaks faith often enough, then in a short time that person's "word of honor" will become to mean nothing ... in short, no one will trust that person or take stock in what he or she says. Excuses do not exist in such matters ... if you pledge your word, you had better be telling the truth. If you swear on your honor to do something, you had better fulfill the promise. If that proves impossible, then you had better take necessary steps to remedy the situation. To do otherwise is to lose honor in the eyes of your peers. To lose honor is to lose faith of those who honor you.
Life & Death - Gorean Pragmatism |
Gold & Steel - Gorean Tactical Thinking | Summation |
