In an age where many perceive truth as relative and politicians peddle falsehood like a cure to cancer, integrity and honesty are endangered concepts. President Washington understood that flattery is unnecessary and dishonest. False compliments lead to false confidence which ultimately lead to disillusioned adults who do not understand why the world does not celebrate their mediocrity. Excellence must be built on merit and merit is accomplished through candid feedback. Compliments are wonderful so long as they are genuine and truthful.
The second part of this "rule" amuses me. I have vivid memories of trying to entice an annoyed sibling to play a game. My own children have driven me crazy trying to get each other to do something they did not want to do. As we get older, we become more comfortable doing what we please whether anyone else joins us or not. For the purposes of modernizing these rules of good behavior, I have not addressed this portion of the "rule" in my guidelines for honesty below.
Teaching the next generation how to give a compliment and communicate with candor is of utmost importance. This list is incomplete, but a great starting point for teaching your children how to communicate with honesty. May you and yours be blessed.
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