This poem seems appropriate today. I first saw it posted on the noticeboard outside the office of this great man, and it had a lasting impact on me.
Never believe the worst of a man
When once you have seen his best,
Of any loyalty worth the name
This is the surest test.
Gossip is ready at every turn,
Your faith and trust to slay,
But the loyal soul is deaf to doubt,
Whatever the world may say.
Whatever you hear on others’ lips,
Don’t let it soil your own;
Let your faith still stronger be
While the seed of slander’s sown.
Keep the image before your eyes,
Of the friend who’s a friend to you:
And stand by that friend through thick and thin
Whatever the world may do.
Never believe the worst of a man,
When your own soul sees the best;
All that matters is what you know
Not what the others have guessed.
And if all that you know is straight and fine
And has brought you friendship’s joys.
Be proud to treasure the truth that’s yours,
Whatever the world destroys.
That poem read so much like Kipling, I was surprised when I followed the link and found it was not.
Stirring sentiments nonetheless.
But why the quote Tim? Is there some massive smear campaign I have failed to notice? I confess I tune out most of the MSM as containing no information and much toxic noise. But nothing new there.
But why the quote Tim?
My personal integrity has been called into question several times of late, in real life.
My personal integrity has been called into question several times of late
Well, clearly not by anyone who knows you.
I may chuckle and occasionally look askance at your naivete regarding the fairer sex, but I doubt anyone who’s spent more than a few minutes in your company could doubt your integrity.
Sadly, some people just like malicious gossip and don’t much care if it’s even remotely credible. This explains most television. Hope this blows over soon enough.
One of the truly valuable things about being someone who behaves with integrity is that when it’s questioned, regardless of how uncomfortable the situation is, you can be confident that integrity wins out in the end.
People who revel in the gossip and mean girls shit are not worth a second thought.
And,yes, I’ve had a similar experience in the last month! Although, it was based around my own mistake.
Tim as long as its not you that is calling it into question, there is nothing for you to worry about, sticks and stones and all that.
And a happy new year to you as well.
“Nothing is permanent in this wicked world – not even our troubles.”
Charlie Chaplin
Apart from atom secrets, there are only three things that make another suspect your honesty. They are money, sexual fidelity, and what have you been saying to others about that person.
Anecdotally, a girlfriend suspected me of still seeing my ex. I said, “Here’s my phone, here’s my computer. Check them out, as much as you like. Any passwords you need, I’ll give them to you.” Thank goodness I never gave her my PIN.
“My personal integrity has been called into question several times of late”.
It is called projection. They are fiddling their expenses, cheating on their wife/husband, stealing from work an/or plotting against people or spreading malicious rumours so they assume that everyone else is like that too. So therefore, you must be doing all of that. Hence you are a scurrilous scoundrel, a despicable dastardly devil etc. Errrrr … perhaps not.
See left wing politics/SJW’s etc.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
…
“If” by Rudyard Kipling (read by Tom O’Bedlam)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tK4HDCIr_E8