Friday, July 10, 2009

How honourable are you?

I had a very frustrating day yesterday because someone broke her verbal agreement to me.

When I consulted the government department handling this kind of dispute and a solicitor, they all said verbal agreement didn't work because it would be a long and expensive process to prove that such an agreement had existed. It would be much better to cut my loss and forget what's right; and concentrate on what's more easily achievable: retreat.

To lift my foul mood, I read my favourite Pride and Prejudice again and it seems villains and the less than heroic characters also used the word honour rather freely:

Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty. - Charles Bingley

There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it - George Wickham


Are being honourable such a rare commodity?

6 comments:

  1. Honor has definitely atrophied in our world, sad to say. A handshake and a verbal agreement used to be as solid a contract as you needed, so my Dad used to say. But when even our politicians and leaders are conniving, lying, hypocritical crooks and in a day and age where everyone is "looking out for number One" rather than following The Golden Rule - best to protect yourself with written contracts, witnessed and notarized.

    But YOU - you be honorable. That way you can look in the mirror and sleep well at night. Some of us have to keep honor and personal respectability alive.

    The Old Silly

    ReplyDelete
  2. Honor and ethics seems to be a thing from our parent's generation. I heard a saying once: an agreement is not final until both sides perform their duties, money is not paid, law suits are filed, and the court decisions are final.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So true, Marvin and Stephen, but I'm trully tempted to behave badly too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LOL, Enid - totally natural. But don't. (wink)

    The Old Silly

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think there's still honor in the world. Maybe not in politics. Maybe not so much in business. But in a lot of people's personal lives, it's still there. Look to your true friends, your family, your loved ones - find it there and hang onto it.

    Helen
    Straight From Hel

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks Helen and Marvin, I need some cuddling!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...