Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. Truthfulness or veracity is the conforming of speechwith fact, or, at any rate, with fact as known. It is theagreement of what is in the mind with what is on the lips.Truthfulness is a virtue, and a moral virtue.
2. Truthfulness is a special virtue, distinct from others.Goodness is the end and object of every moral virtue, and eachspecial virtue is specified, or made a distinct virtue onits own account, by the special aspect of goodness which it seeksor serves. Now, the goodness which truthfulness specifically seeksand serves is that of agreement between thought and speech. Hence,truthfulness is a special virtue.
3. St. Jerome speaks of the truth of life, the truth ofjustice, and the truth of doctrine. The truth of life means the sumtotal of all virtues that can perfect a person; the truth ofjustice is justice itself; the truth of doctrine is true teaching.Truthfulness as a moral virtue is not one of these three objectivetypes of truth; it is a subsidiary or subordinate virtue, yet adistinct one, included under justice. Justice requires balance anddue equality. Now, there are balance and due equality, in a moralsense, when what is said agrees with what is known.
4. Truthfulness as a virtue inclines a person to moderateexpression and avoids exaggeration. It does not demand that a mantell all he knows; it demands only that what he does tell be thetruth as he knows it. Its obligation is not, in itself, arequirement to tell everything; its obligation is that a personspeaking must not tell lies.
"A single act of uniformity with the divine will suffices to make a saint."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"Obedience is a short cut to perfection."
St Philip Neri
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"Happy is the youth, because he has time before him to do good. "
St Philip Neri
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