"Je considère comme un péché mortel non seulement le mensonge des lèvres, mais aussi l'omission de dire toute la vérité, entraînant ainsi la tromperie."

The quote is all about honesty—not just avoiding outright lies, but also committing to full transparency. It's saying that it's not enough to simply avoid telling falsehoods; we need to make sure we're sharing the whole truth to avoid misleading anyone. In other words, leaving out critical information can be just as deceptive as lying straight to someone's face.

This sentiment has been around for ages. It's deeply rooted in moral teachings and philosophical discourse. It’s about integrity. Think of all the times half-truths have caused misunderstandings or harm. Throughout history, leaders, philosophers, and everyday people have stressed the importance of honesty—not just in words, but in actions too.

Imagine this: You’re at work, and you’ve made a mistake on a project. Instead of owning up, you just leave out the part where you messed up. You tell your boss everything else that happened, and it sounds like you did everything right. But then, when things go south, the truth comes out. Your half-truth now looks a lot like a full-blown lie. Your reputation takes a hit, and trust is broken. If you’d been upfront from the start, it might’ve been tough for a moment, but your integrity would’ve stayed intact.

Now, how can you apply this wisdom in your day-to-day life? Start by being mindful about your interactions. If you catch yourself omitting a part of the story that’s crucial, make a conscious effort to include it. It’s about developing a habit of full disclosure, even when it’s uncomfortable. Your relationships, both personal and professional, will be stronger for it.

Let’s put this in a more relatable scenario. Think about a time when you were a kid and you did something you weren’t supposed to do. Maybe you broke your mom’s favorite vase. When she asked what happened, you said, “The vase fell,” which technically wasn’t a lie, but you left out the part where you were playing ball in the house—against the rules. Eventually, the full story came out, and the trust was damaged even more than if you’d just come clean from the start.

In essence, this quote is a reminder that honesty isn’t just about the words we say. It’s about the whole truth. It’s about making sure that what we communicate is the complete picture, not just the parts that make us look good or keep us out of trouble. This kind of honesty builds real trust and authentic connections. And let’s be real, who doesn’t want that?