Honesty is always the best policy.

Meaning: It is always better to be honest, even when it is difficult.

Choice of Words: Honesty is the quality of being truthful and sincere. Is used to indicate a state or condition. Always means at all times or without exception. The is used to refer to a specific thing or group of things. Best means the most desirable or suitable. Policy is a course of action adopted by a government, organization, or individual.

Alternative Expressions

Telling the truth is the smartest thing to do.

Meaning: This means that it's always the best choice to be honest, even if it's difficult.

Choice of Words: Telling means to speak or write something that you know to be true. Truth is the quality of being true or in accordance with fact. Smartest means the most intelligent or sensible. Thing refers to an object or an action. Do is a verb that means to perform an action. When you put them together, "Telling the truth is the smartest thing to do" means that it's the most intelligent and sensible thing to tell the truth.

Being honest is the right thing to do.

Meaning: This means that it's always the right thing to do to tell the truth, even if it's difficult.

Choice of Words: Being means existing or happening. Honest means truthful and sincere. Right means morally correct or just. Thing refers to an object or an action. Do is a verb that means to perform an action. When you put them together, "Being honest is the right thing to do" means that it's the morally correct and just thing to be honest.

Related Expressions