Chapter 30: Veracity

291.
You ask, in lips of men what ' truth ' may be:
'Tis speech from every taint of evil free.

292.
Falsehood may take the place of truthful word,
If blessing, free from fault, it can afford.

293.
Speak not a word which false thy own heart knows,
Self-kindled fire within the false one's spirit glows.

294.
True to his inmost soul who lives, — enshrined
He lives in souls of all mankind.

295.
Greater is he who speaks the truth with full consenting mind,
Than men whose lives have penitence and charity combined.

296.
No praise like that of words from falsehood free;
This every virtue yields spontaneously.

297.
If all your life be utter truth, the truth alone,
Tis well, though other virtuous acts be left undone.

298.
Outward purity the water will bestow;
Inward purity from truth alone will flow.

299.
Every lamp is not a lamp in wise men's sight;
That's the lamp with truth's pure radiance bright.

300.
Of all good things we 've scanned with studious care,
There's nought that can with truthfulness compare.