September 14, 2026

Business by the Book

Proverbs 12:17  He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

Basically everything any person says can be placed in two categories: true or false. Even when a mixture of these two extremes is communicated the whole can be classified as true or false. For example a person may use a portion of true statements in order to support a falsehood. Of statements being true or false there are at least four variations.

The statement is true

The statement is false but the speaker thinks it be true

The statement is false and the speaker knows it to be false

The statement has elements of truth, but in totality the statement is false

Every successful business person will learn to recognize the difference, because truth results in rightness while falsehoods result in deceit. Deceit will tarnish any successful organization sooner or later. But rightness assures continued successes. As Marmion learned all too late, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” (Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17. )

Dr. William Howe