Dear Erasmus friends,

In December (2020) we  reflected on one of the key-values of our life: honesty.

After watching a very meaningful video, we  discussed together and then wrote some thoughts, poems and a short story. We hope you will like it . There is also a drawing at the end!

Let's start with our thoughts ...

If you always tell the truth, you will have honest qualities (Carmine)

Honesty is essential for a better world; only people who are honest with themselves can also be honest with others. (Pasquale)

Honesty is an important value for friends and family. Without honesty, you can't live. (Angela)

Honesty for me is trying to make others understand what I feel. It is often difficult to "read" ourselves and understand what we really have.   I sometimes do things because I like them and not because they are right and I try to convince myself that what I like is also good and right for everybody!  This is not being honest. Being honest with yourself is the first step to be honest with others, too. (Federico)

The video tells the story of Vincent, an honest painter who was awarded for his honesty. We should all learn from him. (Vito)

 Honesty

Honesty is very important in my life, because we must not say lies when we do something wrong. For example,  if we copy a grammar test at school we will surely get a good score, but we  cheated and this affects our future because we must not study for the teacher but for us and  our future, in order to find a good job. We must always  be honest   and live in a serious and loyal way. (Matteo)

Dear Erasmus friends,

I want to meet you, but we can't.   We only have video calls because of the pandemy. It would be nice to discuss with you  about the value of honesty which, in my opinion, is the main value that we must have in all the situations of our life. (Vincenzo)

A story that makes us think ...

Once upon a time there was a boy. His name was Agilulf. He had a special gift: he could predict people's future. 

He asked six pence to each person who wanted to know his/her future. 

One day a lady  asked him  her future  but she only had three pence because she  spent   all her money   at the market to buy food for her family. 

The boy said  “Don’t worry, I will see into your future telling you everything in great detail”

After a few days a king  wanted  Agilulf   with him. He wanted to use him to make money. 

Unaware of his intentions, the boy welcomed the king with great kindness. He wanted to see his future but he discovered bad things and he escaped.

Agilulf ran away and went to his customers’ village who asked him what  happened. 

The boy told them everything. They were very furious for the situation. So, all together    they  protested against  the King.

They said that everybody must be  honest   towards everyone. At that point the King   began to be honest. That experience had profoundly changed him. From that day  the King promoted this value, giving money to all the honest people of his kingdom. (Noemi)

We will end with very meaningful and   funny poems ...

HONESTY IS SYNONYMOUS OF GOODNESS (Niccolò)

Vincent was very honest but his friend, on the other hand, was very deadly

Vincent often went to bed hungry but later his honesty paid him

Honesty is the virtue of those who have goodness

It is not a virtue that belongs to everybody and it is not found  everywhere

A lot of people are dishonest and they must be arrested

Few are honest and those few honest people are  teachers

WE must always be honest in our life to be rich and happy in our soul and heart.

Honesty always pays off with happiness.

Dear Sir (Emilio)

He walked along London streets 

He was a bushy bearded man

he was tall, big and very funny

and he   helped all the people.

Bad people watching him from  their terrace

 called him "crazy";

he didn't want to hurt anybody, 

he only wanted to help the crowd,

and everyone heard about him.

An honest man like few,

nowadays it's strange, isn't it?

Today people are all selfish,

proud, homophobic and racist.

He did not hide anything to anyone,

he worked free and he did not have food for himself

but he always helped the others,

certainly, not like you.

Honesty (Domenico)

Honesty is like love

only a few people have it in their hearts.

It helps us grow and

in the future it will make us reborn!

Honesty helps us to believe in ourselves

makes us be better

it makes us grow up if we can look forward

Not everyone has the value of honesty

for this we should sow goodness.

If we all succeed in this noble intent,

the world will certainly be happier!

Honesty in our hearts (Angelo)

Honesty is in everyone's heart

but only some people uses it.

Who is honest will be loved

Who  is not honest will be hated

If you want to become a good person,

You must be honest.

If you want to become  a bad person,

You must be greedy and dishonest.

Honesty in some drawings

Marianna

Pasquale

Domenico