What do you think a person has to do or be to live an honorable life?

I'll keep this one short and sweet. I think if a person manages to live by the Golden Rule the majority of the time, or even better, ALL of the time, they will have lived an honorable life. I can't say I've done it ALL of the time, but I do most of the time. Golden rule for those who don't know... Do unto others as you would have done unto you. Thanks for another great discussion!

We should kick out all the mudslingers and start anew. BUt alas no one will do that . WHat is the old addage those without sin cast the first stone? I hate all the retoric that they put out there and the promices they know they arent going to keep. You have to tell the truth and walk the talk are you arent honorable,like you said. I dont know if there is anyone out there in political land that can tell the truth or have advizers to set and whisper to them what they are to say. I bet if they wrote their own speeches and kept to them some of those poeple could be honorable.

I love your description of what it takes and I have to say that I truly try to live my life according to these perpectives. So far I have done pretty well. I have made a few slips in my many years but one thing I have earned is my own self respect because I think without that I could not try to achieve an honorable life by the standards you describe. .

My perspective is that to live an honorable life one must honor life, in all its forms. This is observable in one's behavior toward others, self, and all of nature. Ghandi and Mother Theresa would be the models. While we may not be in the position to influence as many lives as they, we each influence our part of the world and are responsible for our actions and interactions in it. When I die I hope that I will be remembered as having been a blessing, of having made a positive difference in my part of the world. Only then do I have the right to be "honored."

I think it's hard to live an honorable life in this day and age. If you try, everyone judges you and says that you think you're better than everyone else...when in reality, you've never said anything like that and wouldn't even think that. I respect people who try to live an honorable life. I think it's great that there are still people who care about other people in this increasing selfish world. What does it take to lead an honorable life these days?

*wishes this thing would let me paste... im such a bad speller :S* I suppose I have to give the default Christian answer. You can live a decent life, kinder then others by doing kind things, but to live a good life there is but one way (im not bible thumping so please dont thump me) Personally I thought I lived a honorable life but 3 years ago I found that I had not. Anyway, religion aside, it would be nice for someone to be honest even when it makes them look bad, just becuase it is the right thing to do. Pity all people are sinful, and all we can do is try our best. To be honorable is to be honest, careing and unselfish.

This discussion takes me back to my days studying Aristotle's theory of the Good Life, which he discussed in the Nichomachean Ethics. :) Aristotle believed that the Good Life belonged only to a "good" or honourable person. A Good Life was not about accumulated wealth, or how much pleasure one derives from everyday activities, but virtuous and moral behaviour that fitted in with his times. The a-typical ancient greek hero, who was strong and loyal and trustworthy. Who spoke truth and did great things for the people. Aristotle seemed to believe that if one was virtuous they would be happy, and if they were happy they had teh good life. Okay but I'm rambling, and this is all just my interpretation of all of that anyhow, which is pretty basic. Why I brought it up however is because I believe in this version of the good life- I believe that upholding one's personal virtues (which may differ slightly between individuals and different cultures, but are generally universally acceoted as good values ie; being honest, being trustworthy, being able to lend a helping hand etc) lead to ahappy life and an honourable life. A life which a person can be happy to have lived, and others view as honourable. Hope you can make sense of my ramblings, I find it hard to put across my thoughts sometimes, particularly in regards to philosophical issues. P.S I don't think any politicians in contemporary society can claimj to be virtuous or to have lived a "good" or "honourable" life LOL ;)

Well, I am getting on in age and I hope when I die people will say that I lived an honourable life. To me an honourable life is to fulfill one's responsibilities, treat everyone with respect, be it the CEO of a company or the men who pick up the garbage every week. To be a good husband or wife and to be a good and loyal friend. Also to be content with one's lot in life and not be jealous of those who have more and finally to respect the environment.

WOW! + rating for you. Wonderful unique topic!! "They have integrity, they walk their talk. They also and say what they mean...and mean what they say." Yes they stand for what’s right and they DON’T make allowances, not even for friends. They speak their peace and not run off to start a character assignation from the shadows. They are honest about what they stand for. I reckon it's someone that can stand proud for their every day actions, not because they ignore their wrong doings, because they strive to not commit them.

If the world is wise, what you said about honorable people is really true. But in this high corruption world the person who should get a single honor receives thousands of honor everyday and treated as one of the societies most honorable person due to the fact either he is a man with high political touch, either he is from a good criminal hold, either he shows he is a social reformer and takes huge money to get things done in a society for people. So the real honorable person is not actually these days honored except from a very few lucky one.

You make me think too much! lol. I think an honorable life has to be an honest life and pretty much by the law. I know we have all made mistakes and have done things we regret and would not do now that we know better. But character is formed by trial and error. We learn as we go. We hear from our parents and teachers what we are to do and not do. But we must learn for ourselves what we will and will not do. Then it becomes our own list of rules to live by and not just because someone else told us. Until we make the rules our own with a commitment to follow them we cannot live with integrity. Unfortunately many people are not living honest lives. We all have secrets. Some of those are just guilt about little things we are hiding away because we don't want anyone to know. But those aren't as bad as we think they are. And if people really knew, it wouldn't change their opinion of us. It has just changed our own opinion of ourselves. But there are other things that can and do change opinions. When I hear of the secrets politicians have been hiding, I am very disappointed. There are people we trust - pastors, teachers, doctors, who let us down when they cheat on their spouses, or embezzle, or abuse their wives. They are not living honest lives. They are doing things they have to hide, things that are wrong, things that should not be done. It sounds like I am saying a completely honorable life is one where nothing has to be hidden. That is a little scary. We have secrets we need to keep. But those secrets cannot be "real bad" or the life has not been honorable. This is tough to define. Like I said, you make me think too much.

I got excited when I read the title here for I really have strong feelings about this subject. After reading your entire post, I am left feeling that I really could not add much to it...nothing really. In the end, you won't be remembered for how wealthy you were or the car you drove or anything like that. You will be remembered for how you affected individual lives.

Hi, Set your GOAlS,work sincerely to achieve them,be in the Right State & let not the negativity of others influence you-believe in yourself & be positive, do whatever is ethical & moral, Thank God for everything as everything happening has a PURPOSE behind it which may not be visible & above all, wear on the best cosmetic on your face--SMILE.Believe me, you will have self-satisfaction!! Thanks, www.creatingcolourfulfuture.com

Well these days people views changes as every new gadget in the market.world might be becoming techno savy with each day updates but our values are never gonna be changed they are what we have,they make us our true beings so we should never comprise on them.they are great people in the world who are great in their own ways but great humans are very less they are the ones who know what it is to stand by their words,respect others n deir values.dey lead honorable lyf by standing what comes by deir way dey have da real wealth of deir values which nooone can buy.

I think as usual we agree on this. My imput would be that someone being honorable would be honest. Personal accountability is key also. I would hope that our world would become more honorable however I cannot think that I will see it in my lifetime on any large scale.