Item 7 in Truth By Reason Master Ethical Code
Be Truthful and Trustworthy
Do not lie, defraud, fabricate evidence, spread malicious rumours or deliberately misrepresent others.
- Position
- 7
- Form
- Mixed formulation
- Obligation
- Context-dependent
- Wording status
- Translation
- Intended audience
- Everyone
- Last reviewed
- 28 June 2026
Names and terminology
Canonical name: Be Truthful and Trustworthy
Source wording
<p>Do not lie, defraud, fabricate evidence, spread malicious rumours or deliberately misrepresent others.</p>
Literal meaning
Do not lie, defraud, fabricate evidence, spread malicious rumours or deliberately misrepresent others.
Broader interpretation
Truthfulness does not require helping an abuser or persecutor; protective confidentiality may sometimes be justified.
Practical meaning
Do not lie, defraud, fabricate evidence, spread malicious rumours or deliberately misrepresent others.
Ethical purpose
Truthfulness does not require helping an abuser or persecutor; protective confidentiality may sometimes be justified.
Modern application
Apply this principle to personal conduct, organisations and public policy, with particular attention to people and beings who carry the greatest risks while holding the least power.
Criticism and difficult cases
This principle may conflict with other duties. It should therefore be applied with evidence, proportionality, role reversal, attention to power and review of foreseeable consequences.
Truth By Reason analysis
Truthfulness does not require helping an abuser or persecutor; protective confidentiality may sometimes be justified.
Sources
- Truth By Reason Comparative Ethical Codes Synthesis Primary source