Honesty is the best policy; but he who is governed by that maxim is not an honest man.

Summary

This quote suggests that while honesty is generally regarded as the best way to behave, simply following it as a governing principle does not automatically make someone truly honest. It implies that a person who uses the maxim "honesty is the best policy" as their sole guiding principle may not be inherently honest or sincere in their actions and intentions. True honesty goes beyond adhering to a principle like a policy and requires genuine integrity and moral character to consistently act truthfully and transparently.

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