God Himself is Truth; in propagating which, as men display a greater integrity and zeal, they approach nearer to the similitude of God, and possess a greater portion of His Love. -MILTON. No act of devotion can equal truth; no crime so heinous as falsehood; in the heart where truth abides, there is my abode.* Tell truth and shame the devil. -KABIR. --SHAKESPEARE. The Prophet (Muhammed) said: Quit that which throws you into doubt, and incline towards that which dost not cast you into doubt; because truth is the cause of comfort to the heart; and verily lying is a cause of doubt, and hesitation; I mean, make choice of truth, and leave falsehood. "MISHCAT-UL-MASABIH."† Lie not; but let thy heart be true to God, Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie : He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness : but a false witness deceit. "BIBLE-PROVERBS 12." * From the Works of H. H. Wilson. † Translated from Arabic by Captain Matthews. Speak truly, and each word of thine shall be a fruitful seed. The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment. -"BIBLE-PROVERBS 12." Truth, sacred truth, shall flourish and prevail, They whose eating is solely for the sustaining of life; and whose speech is only to declare truth, surmount difficulties. -"HITOPADESHA."† Do not speak falsehood, for it brings distress; With truth our desires are gratified, and we secure happiness. Prayers, religious austerities, visit to holy places, and charity, All is easy to practise, only truthfulness is difficult and this is the means of obtaining honor. -SÂMAL.‡ There is more profit in a distasteful truth than deceitful sweetness. If a person has become notorious for lying, From Bewick's Select Fables. "It is false." † Prof. Johnson's edition. If one with whom truthfulness is a habit But if one has become noted for lies, People will not again believe the truth from him. -SADI'S GULISTAN.* He who grieves at another's griefs, rejoices at And who is a friend to truth, is always helped by God. When by night the frogs are croaking, Kindle but a torch's fire, Ha! how soon they all are silent! Thus Truth silences the liar. -LONGFELLOW. Truth and falsehood stand to one another in the relation of a stone to an earthen vessel. If a stone be thrown at an earthen vessel, the latter will break. In either case it is the earthen vessel that suffereth. -SIKH TEACHING. Patience, discreetness, and benignity :- -DR. H. MORE. The greatest friend of Truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility. Translated by Platts. +A Gujarati poet. -COLTON. From a Lecture on the Sikhs by Mr. Macauliffe, C.S. The spirit of truth dwelleth in meekness. With the humble there is perpetual peace. If a man be sincerely wedded to Truth, he must make up his mind to find her a portionless virgin, and he must take her for herself alone. -COLTON. He who is himself a true man, has a chance to know the truth of men, when he sees them; he who is not, has none. -THOMAS CARLYLE. If you want a man to be truthful, don't ask him where he has been. Truth is a star that ever shines May seek to cloud or dim its light; Doth live with sinless peace to see It guides the world to noble deeds, To learn the truth of good and right; And bids the rising world look up, And take truth's light to cheer and guide. In groves of shade, or hills of sheen, And where He is truth's light is seen. And all fair things seem brighter far, And teach of love beyond the skies. And even through eternity! THE DUCHESS AND THE KING. The Duchess de Longueville afforded a powerful instance of uprightness of conduct. Not being able to obtain a favour for one of her people from the king, the Duchess was so much hurt that she suffered some very indiscreet words to escape her, which were reported by a gentleman present to his Majesty, and from him to her brother. The latter declared that it could not be true, for he would not believe his sister had lost her senses. "I will believe her, if she herself denies it," said the king. The Prince went to his sister, and she concealed nothing from him. In vain he tried, during a whole afternoon, to persuade her that in this instance sincerity would be folly that in justifying her to the king, he : |