Truthfulness

Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues.  Without truthfulness progress and success, in all the worlds of God, are impossible for any soul.  When this holy attribute is established in man, all the divine qualities will also be acquired.

(Cited in Shoghi Effendi, "The Advent of Divine Justice", p. 26)

Truthfulness, uprightness and integrity are the attributes of the righteous and the hallmarks of the pure.  Truthfulness is the goodliest of qualities as it comprehendeth all other virtues.  A truthful person will be protected from all moral afflictions, will shrink from every evil deed, and be preserved from every wicked act, inasmuch as all vices and misdeeds are the very antithesis of truthfulness, and a truthful man will hold them all in utter abhorrence.

(From a Tablet - translated from the Persian)

O pure soul!  Follow thou in the footsteps of the truthful and tread the way of the righteous, so that, through truthfulness, thou mayest come to occupy a Seat of Truth,(3) and, through righteousness, thou mayest attain to abiding honour.  If the sum of all sins were to be weighed in the balance, falsehood would, on its own, countervail them; nay, its evils would even outweigh them and its detriment prove greater.  It were better for thee that thou shouldst be a blasphemer and tell the truth than that thou shouldst mouth the formulas of faith and yet be a liar.  These clear words are addressed as an admonition to the peoples of the world.  Render thanks unto God that it is through thee that this counsel hath been addressed to all mankind.