Truth and honesty are values that
are very important to the people of the United States. Nothing exemplifies this
idea more so than
the story of George Washington’s childhood.
Since Washington was the United States first president it is only
fitting that he should embody these ideals as well as possible. As his father would say to him, “Truth,
George, is the loveliest quality of youth.”
George’s father instilled these beliefs in his son for many
reasons. He believed that people who
are honest can be depended upon and are praised for their truthfulness. He wanted George to be a positive example
for other
children and families.
George’s
father then explained to him why a dishonest man
person is so bad. He told him that a person who lies often can
never be trusted and thus you cannot believe them even when they may be telling
the truth. Others will fear to see you
coming if you are like this because they do not want their children influenced
by such a person. He then struck fear
in George by saying he would rather nail him into his own coffin and take him
to his grave than to see him grow up as a dishonest man. Even though he loved George very much, he
would give him away rather than see him become a liar.
George
said to his father, “Pa, do I ever tell lies?”
His father replied that, no he does not tell lies and that he rejoices
that fact. He hopes that George would
never tell lies, and told him he would never have to feel ashamed about
anything and thus should not feel the need to lie to him. While some parents may beat their children
with such passion for some misdeed, that the next it occurs the child feels the
need to lie. This type of punishment
only instills the need to lie in children and so George’s father encouraged him
to be forward about his mistakes.
George was not to tell lies to conceal any fault for his father would
not treat him harshly. He knew George
was a young inexperienced boy and that accidents were bound to occur and thus
he wanted to treat him fairly. George
was told to be a man, and own up to his mistakes and that this would lead to
his father honoring him and loving him for his truthfulness. Georges father believed this was the way to
be a good parent and to instill good values in his son. This method worked well for George did not
tell lies as a young boy as evidenced by the incident involving the family’s
cherry-tree.