Honesty is the Best Policy

I have been the lucky recipient of honesty numerous times in my life. Recently, I realized that I had left my credit card at a restaurant and didn’t realize I had left it there until the next day. 

When I called the restaurant, not only did they have it, but the restaurant had closed an hour earlier, and the owner said he would wait for me to come and pick it up. This is the second time I have left my credit card at a restaurant.  

In Japan, many years ago, my father-in-law left his camera on the train. We went to the lost and found at the train station and there were shelves of lost and found items. The person there said, “Which one is it?” There, on one of the shelves, was my father-in-law’s camera. I could’ve probably picked any camera on the shelf, but in Japan, people are so honest that he trusted me to pick the one that belonged to my father-in-law. 

On another occasion, I was in a little coffee shop called a “kissaten” in Japan. I loved the little neighborhood “kissaten,” or coffee shops, often small and run by an owner and maybe one worker. 

I was studying and having coffee alone, when the owner came up to me and said, “I am sorry. I have to run to the bank. I will be right back. Can you watch my store for me?” I said, “Sure,” but I didn’t really know the owner. 

Shortly after he left, there were two customers who wanted to pay their bills and leave. They asked me where the owner was. I said he ran to the bank. The two customers left the money for their bills with me and left!  

Within a few minutes, the owner returned and I gave him the money from the other customers. He thanked me profusely, but I couldn’t believe what just happened, especially coming from the United States. To trust a total stranger to watch your shop with the cash register right there?  Unbelievable. 

Another time years ago when I was in Las Vegas, we watched a lounge show and my “extra wallet” with extra gambling money fell out of my pocket. I didn’t realize it till after I left the lounge some time later. I rushed back to the lounge, and sure enough, a cocktail waitress had turned it in to the bartender.  

Still another time in more recent years, I left a slot machine in a rush and cashed out the ticket, but left the ticket in the machine. The person who sat down after me noticed me walking away and followed me clear to the other side of the casino until he caught up to me to return my ticket that was more than just a few bucks. My name was not on the ticket. He could have easily kept it for himself but he didn’t.  

In our modern era, we are inundated with all kinds of scams, identity theft, and so on. But yet, while there are dishonest people trying to take advantage of innocent people, there are honest people who don’t take what is theirs and return or turn in what they find.  

The old adage, “Honesty is the best policy,” is really true and wisdom for today. If you are honest, then there are no regrets. If you are dishonest, you might get away with it now, but you might have a guilty heart later.  

I remember that whenever we went out to eat, my dad would always add the check after he got it from the waiter or waitress. Nine times out of 10, he would find an error in their arithmetic. He always told the waiter or waitress, even when we were “undercharged” incorrectly. For my dad, “honesty was always the best policy.”  

Rev. Gyomay Kubose, in his book, “Everyday Suchness,” writes the following in his essay titled, “Honesty.”

“There are many smooth talkers and many people who put up a false front and live double lives, but I would rather be cheated and be happy, and be poor by being honest, rather than cheat others for gain. There is untold peace and gladness in being honest to myself.”

I have been the recipient of the honesty of people many times over the years. I hope that someday I might be able to return the favor to someone.