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Kate Blake

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TEDCRED 50+

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Integrity: what does it mean to you?

Dictionary meanings are very limited and not always relevant to our personal situations. I would like to hear what 'integrity' means to/for you.

And please give any examples that come to mind to illustrate your point?

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Closing Statement from Kate Blake

The words that kept coming up are honesty, trust, reliable; that 'integrity' is a core characteristic of an ethical person.

We seem in agreeance that it's a very positive quality that we admire in others and strive to achieve ourselves.

Much thanks to all those who participated, those slient readers and especially TED for providing the forum!

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    Robert Winner 50+

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    Jan 10 2013: To me it is the ability to look into the mirror and tell that guy that I did my best and dealt fairly in all of my actions and deeds.

    The guy in the mirror knows the truth and you cannot lie to him / her.

    At the end of the day have you returned with honor.

    All the best. Bob.
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      Kate Blake 50+

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      Jan 10 2013: So true Bob, we ultimately have to face the consequnces of all our actions and inactions. We may try to fool others but we are the ones held accountable when we report to that pearly gate.
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    russell lester

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    Jan 9 2013: "To your own self be true, and thus it follows as night must follow day you can be false before no others."
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    Chetan Somani

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    Jan 9 2013: Integrity for me is to be honest with everyone and with the work you are indulged in.
    As they say : 'Honesty is the best policy'. Its good to amend by it.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Jan 9 2013: Intergrity to me means standing for what is right; being truthful, transparent and unselfish either in the dark or in the light, either secret or in the open.
    The decisions of a woman or man of intergrity is not guided by convinience, comfort or rosy benefits but by justice, love, fairness and truth.

  • Barry Palmer 50+

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    Jan 9 2013: I take the meaning of integrity from one of the meanings of the word integral, a complete unit, a whole.

    Integrity means a person whose actions and words all reflect the core character of the person. A person who understands their own values, and their every word and every action reflects these core values. In modern parlance, a person who walks the talk and talks the walk.

    For an ethical person, as many of us claim to be, this means complete honesty in action and deeds, with no hypocrisy.

    I find it funny when politicians lay claim to integrity, when everyone knows that it is their job to compromise, and that they sometimes must compromise their principles and often find that they have to renege on campaign promises. We do not really want politicians of integrity, we want politicians that can do a dirty job effectively.
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      Chetan Somani

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      Jan 9 2013: Good one Barry.
      But you will hardly find any politician with the principle of honesty so there is no point of compromising.Politics is a field where integrity is way behind all the principles which persist.

  • Scot Wilcox 10+

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    Jan 8 2013: Integrity is very closely related to honesty to me. Call it moral staying power if you will. You don't do something you know is wrong even if it looks like it may benefit you. You have your core values and you stick to them. You say you believe in a living a certain way, and you do it. For example, say you own a business. You have an opportunity for a shady deal that could make you a lot of money, but might be slightly illegal. A person with integrity who believes in upholding the law won't do the deal. A person with integrity keeps their promises. You can trust them.
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      Kate Blake 50+

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      Jan 8 2013: Well said Scott!

      Only thing I'd have to question is 'upholding the law', having worked with trauma for many years including child protection, rape and war veterans I would have to question the so-called justice system. Laws are made by men for men so women and children get very little protection under them. I know as an officer of the court I broke the law in order to maintain my integrity.

      How would that fit for you? Sometimes we have to use our authority to protect those that are not protected by law.

      • Scot Wilcox 10+

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        Jan 8 2013: If you'll notice I didn't specify that upholding the law necessarily meant you had integrity. If you believed that upholding the law was right, then upholding it would mean you had integrity. However, if the law contradicted your values, then disobeying it would be showing integrity. Whatever your beliefs are, sticking to them is integrity.
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