Daily Inspirational Quote September 25 2014

“Don’t flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become. Except in cases of necessity, which are rare, leave your friend to learn unpleasant things from his enemies; they are ready enough to tell them.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

I often practice radical honesty, for I believe that relationships will only be as deep and as powerful as people are open and intimate with each other. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed that when I say something that wounds someone, no matter how true or insightful it may be, it doesn’t feel constructive or wise, it just feels regrettable. While honesty is important, if what we desire is love and happiness, we should never be more truthful than we are kind.