"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless; knowledge without integrity is dangerous and destructive."___SAMUEL JOHNSON

The person of quality in the Age of Responsibility exemplifies the combination of knowledge and integrity that alone comprises the superior being. Although this combination is rare today, it will be prevalent in the days to come.

The Quality of Integrity

We live in an age in which the quality of integrity is little understood. The word integrity, as defined in the random House Unabridged Dictionary, means, "Soundness of and adherence to moral principle and character." Funk & Wagnalls Company's A Standard Dictionary of the English Language calls it, "Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principle." G.& C. Merriam Company's Webster's New International dictionary of the English Language defines it as, "Moral soundness; honest; freedom from corrupting influences or practices."

Each of these definitions, it may be noticed, contains the word soundness. When we look up this word, we are told in each instance it is the "Quality of being sound." When we then search for the word sound, we find many definitions, but for our purposes the following seem to be the most applicable:

From the Random House Unabridged Dictionary: "Free from moral defect or weakness"; Funk & Wagnalls Company's A Standard Dictionary of the English Language: "Morally healthy, good or honorable"; G.& C. Merriam Company's Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language: "Founded in truth; resting on solid grounds."

Historical Considerations of Integrity

With these definitions in mind, we can observe how this quality has been implemented in the past and what thoughts our forefathers had concerning it.

The British author Goldsmith wrote, "Both wit and understanding are but trifles without integrity. The ignorant peasant without fault is better than the philosopher with many. What is genius or courage without a heart?"

"Give us a man, young or old, high or low, on whom we know that we can thoroughly depend - who will stand firm when others fail - the friend faithful and true, the adviser honest and fearless, the adversary just and chivalrous; the Rock of Ages - a sign that there has been a prophet amongst us," wrote Dean Stanley.

Of integrity A.E. Dunning declared, "Aaron Burr was a more brilliant man than George Washington. If he had been loyal to the truth, he would have been an abler man; but that which made George Washington the chief hero in our great republic was the sagacity, not of intellectual genius, but of the moral element in him."

"Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of tricks and duplicity, than straightforward and simple integrity in another," according to Colton.

"Integrity is the first step to greatness," assert C. Simmons.

Examples of Integrity

American history is replete with examples of integrity, the most quoted perhaps being those of Abraham Lincoln. Integrity was needed by this great man, as by few others, as he completed his, and America's, mission.

The following statements by Lincoln gave some of the flavor not only of is integrity, but also the nature of integrity itself.

As his first term was drawing to a close, he felt it necessary to make a call for another 500,000 Union recruits for the Civil War. He was warned against this by all his advisers because they believed it would doom his chances for re-election. Lincoln's reply was, "It is not necessary for me to be re-elected, but it is necessary for the soldiers at the front to be re-enforced by the 500,000 men and I shall call for them; and if I go down under this act, I will go down with my colors flying.

The following two quotes show further the character of the man:

"I desire so to conduct the affairs of this Administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me."

"I do the best I know how; the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing it to the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, then a legion of angels swearing I was right will make no difference."

The best test of a man's integrity was stated by the British writer Macaulay, who said, "The measure of a man's real character is what he would do, if he knew he would never be found out."

In these days of scandal at all levels of public and private endeavor we can but wonder what happened to integrity. The quality of integrity stands out because of its rarity at all times. It is the contrast with so much of Humanity that gives our examples their character.

A young stage magician once went to a well-known philosopher for advice on how to be successful at his chosen profession. The philosopher's wry reply was, "Tell them the truth, son; that will fool them ever time." And so it will.

Mark Twain, in his quasi-gruff manner, said, "Always do right, it will gratify some people and astonish the rest."

In Support of Integrity

Only one thing allows a lack of integrity to flourish - the desire of humanity to get something for nothing. Upon this weakness all those of little integrity depend for their livelihood. Were we all willing to expect only that which we had honestly earned such men would soon be out of business. It is our weaknesses that perpetuate these sharp practices. In the same way or now ubiquitous drug problem would go away tomorrow if the demand for these substances ceased.

Every day, in the mail, most of us receive offers that seem too good to be true. The truth is, they are too good to be true. They are come ons, designed to tempt us into parting with our honestly earned cash. This type of con game has been going on for centuries. Why, you may ask, is it still successful after all these years? As has often been said, "History repeats itself because people don't learn." It seems that the desire to get rich quick with little thought for the reasonableness of the method is an endemic disease in the human being of all times and climes.

In the Age of Responsibility integrity will take on a new appreciation. It will be considered a requirement for business and personal affairs. As we are able to teach the accuracy of the Law, "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," mankind will come to understand the folly of expecting that which has not been earned.

Philosophers probably could argue unendingly on the subject, which has caused the greatest evil in the world, integrity without knowledge or knowledge without integrity. We can say here only that there are good and bad aspects about both possibilities.

Integrity Without Knowledge

In the world of men it is important to be able to communicate on as many levels as possible to be effective. This is especially true in these days of greater and greater intellectual advancement.

Few men and women in places of standing have not finished college and many have training far beyond. The garner their respect it is essential that all who would lead are able to communicate on their level.

Knowledge as such means much more than this, however; it also means the ability to understand the human heart. This as called wisdom, but it is here considered as a part of knowledge. Wisdom comes from experience. It is the combination of Knowledge and experience put through the tempering fires of life.

Once we have been able to create a combination of knowledge of our subject, wisdom to mobilize this knowledge, and, finally, integrity to use it for the good of all, we become invincible and nothing of real value in life is denied us.

Knowledge Without Integrity

The combination of knowledge without integrity is highly appreciated by the world which has learned to be streetwise. It is this combination that accepts all bribes, pays for every vote, and accepts payment for votes. At this altar many bow down, knowing they are in plentiful company. This is the rational god of the Earth. If there were no such thing as a Divine Law and an orderly Universe, this god would prevail.

But we do live in an orderly Universe and the god of the street is not the Lord of our being. We do live by the integrity of our actions and not by the cunning and conniving that we would like to pass off as expedient. As Lincoln said, unless we are able to satisfy our friend inside (Divine Spark) nothing else matters. The opinions of others are, in the last analysis, only so many temptations unless they help to fortify and sustain what our Inner Voice tells us. This does not mean we should not take counsel. Taking advice can be a wise and productive move, but the final decision must be ours from what we are told from the combination of our knowledge, wisdom, and integrity.

When we do something because we think others want us to do so, we do the work of the devil.

The real secret of all proper action is to understand and accept, in the heart, the Spirit of the Law. The Law tells us that as we treat others so will we be treated. If we want good things to adorn our lives, we must work to bring such good things to all whom we contact. "And with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."___Matthew 7:2.

Integrity, like honesty, is the best policy. It has the ability to bring us the best not only in the next world but in this one as well. The corrupt individual is able to influence only those who are themselves corrupt. The Honest man is protected here and now as well in the planes above. The vibrations that emanate from integrity draw to the sender those of like nature. In this way, the honest man's life is enriched and the deceits that plague those who live with and by deception do not attend him.
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