"Honesty is the rarest wealth anyone can possess, and yet all the honesty in the world ain't lawful tender for a loaf of bread"
- Josh Billings
About this Quote
This quote by Josh Billings highlights the value of honesty and how it is not always valued in our society. While honesty is considered a precious characteristic that everyone need to have, it does not constantly translate into financial gain. The phrase "legal tender for a loaf of bread" means that honesty can not be used as a form of payment for standard necessities. This implies that society values product belongings over moral worths. In spite of this, the quote does not suggest that we must compromise our honesty for economic gain. Rather, it stresses the value of timeless virtues like sincerity, even if they are not instantly rewarded.
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