5 Short Stories on Honesty that Teach Us the Way of Living
Stories constitute an important part of our life. No matter how old we are, they never cease to affect and amaze us.
So, here are 5 short stories on honesty that are bound to have an affect on all of us, irrespective of age, and remind us all of its importance and role.
1. The Driving Test
The first among the list of short stories on honesty is about a man in Hungary. He had been practicing for his driving test with his instructor. When he asked his instructor for a feedback, days before the test, he told him that he would have to bribe the examiner with 25,000 Hungarian forint. The instructor also told him that he would act as a middle man in that transaction.
The man didn’t know what to do. As the time came closer, he searched the internet for advice. He came across a website which offers support to the victims of corruption in Hungary, approximately 30 minutes before the deadline of paying the bribe. The experts realised that they did not have enough time to involve the police. So, they conducted a sting operation. They recorded the serial number of the notes and taped the transaction on camera.
The man was fully reimbursed and he honestly took a driving test.
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Short Story on Honesty
When Lal Bahadur Shastri was serving as the prime minister of India, he went to a textile mill. He requested the owner of the mill to show him some Sarees for his wife. The owner showed him some exquisite sarees. When Shastri ji asked the price, he found them too expensive. He asked for cheaper sarees. The owner showed him cheaper sarees. But, Shastri ji still found them expensive. The owner was surprised and told him that he need not worry about the prices as he was the prime minister of India and it would be his privilege to give the sarees to him as gift.
To this Shastri ji replied that he could not accept such expensive gifts and he would only take a saree that he could afford.
3. Lost Game and Robbing Banks
Bobby Jones was a golf player who played national and international matches about a century ago. He was known for his honesty and sportsmanship.
At the U.S. Open in Boston, 1925, he hit his ball on the 11th hole. He, although, insisted that he had moved the ball slightly by accidentally clipping the grass. He told the officials that he had violated Rule 18 (moving the ball), but they didn’t agree. He stayed firm and they finally had to accept. He lost the game by the same margin, one stroke. The sportswriters praised him for his honesty to which he replied, “You might as well praise me for not robbing banks”.
4. Drew Barrymore’s Honest Tweet
A lot of things are expected from celebrities which can be summed up to one word — Perfection. They are expected to be heavenly creatures with no flaws and no problems.
But, the truth is different. Drew Barrymore took to Twitter and posted a crying picture of hers with the following caption -
“What I propose, some days are great and beautiful. Sure, I can be this with two hours of hair and makeup and amazing photography and lighting. I also feel beautiful after a sweaty workout… But it all takes work! Which is good because we can achieve it. What I can’t hide is that some days are difficult and not so pretty and I realise I am lucky with solvable problems and my gratitude is never ending. But, sometimes life can just get to you and take you down for a minute. But we cry and then ourselves up and put one foot in front of the other.”
This sparked a row of conversations. Barrymore’s one honest tweet went a long way on the road of opening up about mental health for everyone, from common folks to celebrities.
5. The Honest Kid
A short story on honesty of a young boy was run in the sports illustrated in 1989. 7-year old Tanner Munsay was playing first base during a T-Ball game in Wellington, Florida. He tried to tag a runner going from first base to second but couldn’t. The umpire, although called the runner out. Tanner then went to the umpire and told her that he had not succeeded in tagging the runner. She reversed her call.
Two weeks later, in another match, the reverse happened. This time Tanner had tagged the player but the umpire called him safe. She looked at Tanner and asked if he tagged the runner. He told her he had. She immediately called the player out. When the audience retorted, she told them that she believed the kid’s honesty enough and told them the last game’s incident.
Conclusion
“Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living and truth loving.”
― James E. Faust
Honesty isn’t something that is bound by age or social status. These 5 short stories on honesty tell us that no matter who we are, where we are, what we do, honesty and integrity go a long way. The result may not be immediate, but the universe doesn’t lose even a single good deed. It’s remembered and properly rewarded.
Do you have any short stories on honesty of your own? Share them below in the comment section.
Originally published at https://www.beaninspirer.com on August 29, 2019.
