DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Sewell Van Alstine diary, 1863-1864

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97  The truth should never be violated or withheld in order to deceive, which many do from motives of mistaken benevolence, what my be benevolent to one, may be malevolent toward another; we are not to do evil that good may come; no deviation from truth, & frankness, is justifiable even by the plausable apology, of telling a lie of benevolence, or withholding the truth from a motive of kindness.  A liar may be said to be a bravado toward God, & a coward toward man, for the liar insults God, and crouches to man; Resolution of Bishop Roley I am resolved by the grace of God, always to make my toungue & heart, go together, so as never to speak with the one, what I do not think in the other; Those who desert Truth in trifles, can [barely?] be trusted in matters of Importance; White lies always introduce others of a darker complexion; Truth is always consistent with itself, & needs nothing to help it out, it is always near at hand

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97 The truth should never be violated or withheld in order to deceive, which many do from motives of mistaken benevolence, what my be benevolent to one, may be malevolent toward another; we are not to do evil that good may come; no deviation from truth, & frankness, is justifiable even by the plausable apology, of telling a lie of benevolence, or withholding the truth from a motive of kindness. A liar may be said to be a bravado toward God, & a coward toward man, for the liar insults God, and crouches to man; Resolution of Bishop Roley I am resolved by the grace of God, always to make my toungue & heart, go together, so as never to speak with the one, what I do not think in the other; Those who desert Truth in trifles, can [barely?] be trusted in matters of Importance; White lies always introduce others of a darker complexion; Truth is always consistent with itself, & needs nothing to help it out, it is always near at hand