Integrity

The word integrity comes from the Latin noun integritas, meaning “wholeness” or “completeness.” One way to understand integrity, then, is as the state of being whole and consistent in our thoughts, words, and actions.

As individuals, we live rich inner lives filled with ideas, feelings, values, and principles that we try to live by. All of these exist in our minds, private and invisible to others. No one can truly “see” what we think or feel except ourselves.

We express our inner world through language, but words can be imperfect tools. Sometimes, we struggle to express what we truly mean. Other times, we may choose not to share what we think or feel. And sometimes, we intentionally say something different from what we believe, which is an act of deception we usually call lying.

Beyond thoughts and words, our actions often reveal our true selves more clearly than speech. For instance, if someone kneels to propose marriage, we can reasonably assume affection and admiration, even though we cannot access their private emotions.

Integrity means maintaining consistency among these three parts of life—thoughts, speech, and actions. When we act in harmony with what we believe and speak truthfully about what we think, we act with integrity. Conversely, when our words and actions diverge from our true thoughts and values, we become fractured and lose integrity. Integrity is a moral concept because intentional misalignment of thought, speech, and action is deceptive. When this deception serves self-interest or harms others, it becomes morally wrong.