"من يسمح لنفسه بالكذب مرة يجد أنه من الأسهل القيام بذلك مرة ثانية وثالثة حتى يصبح في نهاية المطاف عادة."

Once you start telling lies, it gets easier and easier until it becomes a bad habit. That’s the core idea here. Let's break it down.

Think about a time when someone first told a small lie. Maybe they said they were sick to get out of a boring meeting. It seems harmless at first, right? But then, the next time they don't feel like attending something, lying becomes an easy out. Before you know it, lying feels like second nature. The stakes might get higher, and the lies bigger, but it all started with that first little fib.

This idea has been around for ages. Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, actually said this. Jefferson lived in a time when a person's word was their bond. Integrity and honesty were the cornerstones of a trustworthy individual. If you couldn’t be trusted to tell the truth, what could you be trusted with?

Let's get practical. Imagine a manager at work who starts taking credit for their team's ideas. The first time, it’s a small exaggeration. They think, "No one will notice, and it makes me look good." But then, it happens again. Soon, it's a habit. The team feels demoralized, and trust is broken. What started as one small lie spiraled into a massive issue. The manager gains a bad reputation, and the team's productivity suffers because they don't feel valued.

So, how do you apply this wisdom? Simple: commit to honesty, even when it’s tough. If you catch yourself about to lie, pause and think about the long-term consequences. Remember, it’s easier to maintain trust than to rebuild it once broken. And if you do slip up, own it. Admitting a mistake can sometimes restore more trust than never making a mistake at all.

Here's a story to bring it home. Picture two friends, Sarah and Emily. They’ve known each other since college and share everything. One day, Sarah tells Emily a white lie about why she can’t hang out. Sarah says she has to work late, but in reality, she just wants to stay in and binge-watch her favorite show. Emily doesn't suspect a thing, so Sarah thinks it’s no big deal. Next week, Sarah does it again. This time, she says she’s visiting family. A month later, Emily finds out from another friend that Sarah was at a concert she didn’t invite Emily to—on one of those “work late” nights. Emily feels hurt and betrayed. It’s not about the concert; it’s about trust. Sarah’s habit of lying, even about small things, starts to unravel their friendship.

Telling the truth builds a foundation of trust and respect. Sure, it might be uncomfortable sometimes, but in the long run, it’s worth it. Imagine your relationships—personal and professional—flourishing because people know they can count on your word. That’s the real payoff.

So next time you’re tempted to lie, think about this: Is it worth the risk of starting a habit that might eventually damage your relationships and your self-respect? Probably not. Stick to the truth, and you'll build a life based on trust and integrity. And isn’t that something worth striving for?