My father was not always 100 percent hnest himself, but he did teach me and repeated so often that I grew up firmly believing that the most valuable asset you can have is a reputation for always telling the truth no matter what the consequences to you personally. The longer I live, the more I see how right he was. 

But then, after all, apparently the Psalmist David also learned that same lesson at some time in his life. We see him saying in the fifteenth Psalm, "He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not." Or as a more literal translation puts it, "who keeps his word even when it hurts." The whole context of that passage reads, "He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15:3-5).

In the Ten Commandments, we read, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16  In context: Exodus 20:15-17)
 

The real truth is that the most valuable asset you can have is a reputation for always telling the truth no matter what the consequences to you personally.

There have been numerous university and High School cheating scandals in recent years and often the students see nothing wrong in cheating. But if you are depending on the diploma on the wall, as important as it is, it is no substitute for the knowledge in your own head. Your own diploma can be easily destroyed in any number of accidental ways or an angry spouse, especially if you have built a reputation with them of being untrustworthy, may intentionally destroy it. A thief can steal it and attempt to use it as his own professional identiy. The university who issued your degree could lose your record, especially after several years have passed. But if you are depending on what you know and therefore can do, your obvious knowledge and ability will make way for you even if you don't have a diploma to show at all. 

And in this context, there will be many times in your life when your actual knowledge will be more important than a diploma because 
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either you set out to have your own business enterprise or are in a place where the diploma is not important, it is the knowledge in your head that will prove important. So cheating on tests is really cheating your own self. 
 

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