It’s been one everlasting training and training and training in honesty—honesty shielded, from the very cradle, against every possible temptation, and so it’s artificial honesty, and weak as water when temptation comes, as we have seen this night. God knows I never had shade nor shadow of a doubt of my petrified and indestructible honesty until now—and now, under the very first big and real temptation, I—Edward, it is my belief that this town’s honesty is as rotten as mine is; as rotten as yours. It is a mean town, a hard, stingy town, and hasn’t a virtue in the world but this honesty it is so celebrated for and so conceited about; and so help me, I do believe that if ever the day comes that its honesty falls under great temptation, its grand reputation will go to ruin like a house of cards.
From “The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg,” by Mark Twain
In this brilliantly flowing snippet, sentence by sentence, Mark Twain flashes before our eyes the anxiety and despair felt by the sanctimonious when exposed to great temptation. The uselessness of artificial training in honesty becomes evident since the word of mouth or use of religious tenets, biblical passages, or proverbs might not be consistent deterrents. The painful realization that they are as human as we all are dawns on them as soon as true temptation knocks on their door. It is really the example set by our parents—by our role models—that counts. The best advice is to avoid it: “He who avoids temptation avoids sin.” But sometimes the temptation finds us. How many of you have seen the Devil sitting right in front of you? I have seen him a few times. The Devil did not pose with a long tail, black attire, and fiery eyes. He or she dressed and looked like you and me. But one can recognize them by the stench of brimstone that hovers around them. You know what I mean. Of course, we can be deceived. It is said that we all have a price—not only politicians and businessmen. Be glad that most of us will never have the chance to know the amount. But if it happens, may God have mercy on our souls. And it’d better be a good temptation.
