CSS 2023 Special Solved Essay | “No Legacy Is So Rich As Honesty.”
Maleeha Sattar, a Sir Syed Kazim Ali student, has attempted the CSS 2023 Special essay “No Legacy Is So Rich As Honesty.” on the given pattern, which Sir Syed Kazim Ali teaches his students. Sir Syed Kazim Ali has been Pakistan’s top English writing and CSS, PMS essay and precis coach with the highest success rate of his students. The essay is uploaded to help other competitive aspirants learn and practice essay writing techniques and patterns to qualify for the essay paper.
Outline
1-Introduction
- ✓Thesis Statement
Despite the observance of deceit in modern society, which may lead to a chaotic world, exercising honesty in routine life and global undertakings can build a more transparent and cohesive world people living in, as honesty plays a crucial role in shaping people’s lives virtuously, encouraging them to develop a fair community legacy, proving Shakespeare’s words valid: “No legacy is so rich as honesty.”
2-Understanding the contextual meaning of the quote, ‘No legacy is so rich as honesty.’
- ✓ Different interpretations of the quote based on multiple contexts
3-How do people at different levels worldwide justify the quote’s validity, ‘No legacy is so rich as honesty’?
3.1-Individual level
- ✓Attaining personal character and self-respect based on trustworthiness
- Case in Point: Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAAW) said, “The most beloved of you to Allah is the best of you in character.” (Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari)
- ✓Adopting the principles of selflessness as a perfect lifestyle
- Case in Point: Abdul Sattar Edhi’s simple lifestyle, a glaring example of the case
3.2-Society’s level
- ✓Expanding the intellectual assets of families’ personalities in society
- Case in Point: The dissemination of Allama Iqbal’s philosophical works and messages by his grandson, Mian Iqbal Salah Uddin, in the non-profit organization named Dabistan-e-Iqbal (Garden of Iqbal)
- ✓Developing a socially cohesive society of various diverse groups
- Case in Point: New Zealand’s 2023 report card on different international pass marks, highlighting the country’s peoples’ positive social bond (The Conversation)
3.3-State’s level
- ✓Ruling the country with a commitment to honesty in the governance mechanism
- Case in Point: According to Global Financial Magazine, “Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, and it is the 16th year in a row that it has retained the number one spot in the Global Peace Index (GPI) since the index began in 2008.”
- ✓Boosting the country’s economic growth by making honesty the basic principle
- Case in Point: The third largest economy in the world now, Japan’s economic growth saga is based on truth and honesty with its nationals after two nuclear attacks on its cities in World War II.
3.4-Global’s level
- ✓Enjoying a positive reputation globally by prioritizing honesty in business practices
- Case in Point: “Among many other companies, ECOLAB has earned the title of ‘The Most Ethical Company'” according to the Ethisphere’s 2023 estimations.
- ✓Making global decisions for the well-being of all countries
- Case in Point: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations (UN), a clear manifestation of the case
4-What happens if people around the globe do not give honesty importance?
- ✓Heightening suspicion in a person may lead to severe health issues.
- Case in Point: The uncontrolled Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) in a person may lead to the risk of self-harm to others at the hands of that person, like that in John Hinckley Jr.’s case
- ✓Unrestricted moral relativism and manipulating governance and legal systems for personal gains may end democratic practices.
- Case in Point: The Arab Spring 3.0, the future of the Arab countries
- ✓Amplification of global tensions due to dishonest practices may trigger the third world war.
- Case in Point: Unresolved climate crisis may heat sovereignty debates in Antarctica, triggering the third world war.
5-What prospects will be seen if everyone globally understands the true meaning of the quote, ‘No legacy is so rich as honesty’?
- ✓The increase in trust between leaders and the public
- Case in Point: Underdeveloped states would achieve the highest rank in the Human Capital Indexes, like Singapore, a developing country, standing at 0.88 according to the last World Bank survey.
- ✓The achievement of absolute social justice
- Case in Point: The now lowest-ranked countries, such as Venezuela, Cambodia, Afghanistan, etc., would also rank high in the WJP Rule of Law Index.
- ✓The observance of transparency in all international and diplomatic decisions
- Case in Point: The Kashmir-like disputes may be settled amicably
6-How can everyone apply the message in the quote, ‘No legacy is so rich as honesty’ in his life to make it better?
- ✓To practice self-honesty by becoming authentic and truthful
- ✓To foster a culture of honesty with patience, empathy, and understanding in society
- ✓To focus on equality and integrity of all while decision-making at national and international levels
7-Critical Analysis
8-Conclusion
Honesty, the centre of virtue across generations, societies, and continents, lies at the heart of a person’s noble behaviour. Indeed, it is one’s quality to be righteous in perceptions, expressions, and actions by staying faithful and confident in all aspects of life. Thus, lives spent on the pillars of this morality carve a worthwhile legacy for heirs, starting a chain reaction of being worthy necessary for building a harmonious community and making people realize that being modest is a must above every material gain in life. Despite the observance of deceit in modern society, which may lead to a chaotic world, exercising honesty in routine life and global undertakings can build a more transparent and cohesive world people living in, as honesty plays a crucial role in shaping people’s lives virtuously, encouraging them to develop a fair community legacy, proving Shakespeare’s words valid: “No legacy is so rich as honesty.” In his classic aphorism, William Shakespeare justifies the legacy of honesty has long-lasting impacts on man’s life instead of the legacy full of material gains and external achievements. For instance, a person attains a smooth character based on trustworthiness and a selfless lifestyle, leaving a legacy of honesty for his surroundings. Besides, disseminating intellectual assets and developing society as a cohesive bond are also fruits of learning honesty. However, the world may become war-torn and home to immoral, suspicious people by giving zero importance to honesty, which, if everyone practices truly focusing on equality and empathy rules, can regain its vitality at full potential in the form of social justice, trust sufficiency, and openness.
Explaining the quote’s contextual meaning is crucial before moving towards its practical application at different levels. Significantly, the quote, “No legacy is so rich as honesty,” written by William Shakespeare, the English playwright and poet, tells the people that the centre of one’s life lies at the heart of honesty, which is the accurate measure of legacies. In his play, “All Well That Ends Well” Act III-Scene 5, when Mariana warned Diana to be wary of Bertram, a young French count who performed admirably in the war and tried to seduce Diana, she advised her that nothing in this world is so precious than a person’s modesty, which should never be sacrificed for temporary pleasures. Besides this, the verse is interpreted so that a person should always be truthful in his acts and never allow worldly needs or evils to malign his honesty. From a broader perspective, the interpreters of this verse also delineate the idea that when a person lives an honest life, other people are impressed by his good conduct and learn honesty from his lifestyle model. As a result, a ripple effect of this activity formulates a community of honest people. And the honest legacy forming afterwards breaks the bubbles of evil and fabricated lies in which people lived formerly. Thus, the quote reflects the worth of a life lived with a commitment to honesty, signifying it as a man’s most priceless contribution to human civilization.
Talking about the validity of the justification that no legacy is so rich as honesty at the individual level, a person attains his character and resumes his self-respect based on trustworthiness, no matter which religion he follows. Specifically, the follower of Islam obeys all the rules of righteousness and spends his life feeling that there is a supreme authority to whom he will be accountable if he does not follow the regulations ordained. In this way, his every task revolves around the spin wheel of spreading love and care among others. In one of his Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAAW) also said, “The most beloved of you to Allah is the best of you in character.” It means that a person also spends his life on the right path to become closer to Allah, thus preferring honesty above all material gains and making it the cornerstone of the rich legacy.
Next, a person also adopts the principles of selflessness, making it a perfect model lifestyle for the rest of the world. From his life, people take a message and learn honesty, which will be fruitful for developing a better society later. To illustrate, Abdul Sattar Edhi’s simple lifestyle is a glaring example of the case. Undoubtedly, that one man was the epitome of humanity, and through his acts, he set an example for the public by changing the outlook of the world. Upon looking at people’s misery, he was responsible for developing a system providing free-of-cost services to needy people. As a result, he made the Edhi Foundation and helped thousands of people facing hardships in Pakistan and also across the globe. So, a person’s lifestyle can also become a practical manifestation for people worldwide, from which the non-stop rich legacy of honesty continues until the Day of Judgement.
Taking an overview of the society level, various descendants of the noble families disseminate the intellectual assets of their family’s gem as a sign of honesty. Through this act, they expand their ideas and thoughts among the people and make them honestly aware of their legacy. For instance, the dissemination of Allama Iqbal’s philosophical works and messages by his grandson, Mian Iqbal Salah Uddin, in the non-profit organization Dabistan-e-Iqbal, also called Garden of Iqbal, clearly manifests the argument. Verily, he has taught philosophy to thousands of students freely in this institute and positively changed their mindsets, as education is the crucial weapon to crop a healthy public opinion necessary for building a progressive society. So, their way of promulgating the epic piece of art honestly is a testament that the legacy of honesty is the richest of all.
Further, developing a socially cohesive society in a country comprising various diverse groups is another vindication of the legacy of honesty as the wealthiest one in society. To illustrate the example of one of the country’s society, New Zealand’s 2023 report card, according to The Conservation on different international pass marks, from which the Freedom House scored 99 out of 100, and the Gender Gap Index shows the country at the fourth rank are the remarkable ones. Indeed, the country’s citizens share a positive social bond, as illustrated in these figures. Due to this level of independence, people thus promulgate honesty as the wealthiest form of legacy.
Stepping ahead at the state level, the countries’ stakeholders ruling it with the commitment to be honest in the governance mechanism shows that the maxim is true. According to the Global Financial Magazine, “Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, and it is the 16th year in a row that retains the number one spot in the Global Peace Index (GPI) since the index began in 2008.” In fact, the country’s government has struggled hard to achieve this status. As a result, its borders are free from a standing army, and very few instances of street crimes are reported in the country. Thus, nothing is more precious than honesty, the cornerstone of every rich legacy proved in this case.
Adding more to it, the country’s economic growth by practicing honesty as the fundamental principle takes it to the highest level of progression and development, providing it with leverage to stand firmly at the international level. One such example is Japan. The now third largest economy in the world once became helpless at the end of World War II when its two cities, Nagasaki and Hiroshima, were attacked by the great power United States (US). Due to that instance, its economic growth rolled back a thousand years and became stagnant for decades. However, the country’s struggle to make honesty its core motive helps it achieve the highest status today. So, making honesty the base can build a more vital legacy that everyone will never forget for centuries.
Looking keenly at the global level, various global business companies enjoy their positive reputation by prioritizing honesty. Through their efforts, they indeed leave a remarkable image in the eyes of international citizens, which is necessary to excel further in the global village. “Among many other companies, ECOLAB. Inc. (Protecting What’s Vital) has earned the title of ‘The Most Ethical Company'” according to the Ethisphere’s 2023 estimations. Undoubtedly, the company has been working well by offering hygiene, water, and infection prevention solutions and services to help make the world safer, cleaner, and healthier. Therefore, through their work, the company has actively contributed a strong foundation of the rich legacy of honesty for future generations.
Lastly, while making various global decisions, political leaders keep all countries’ well-being in view, which is also evidence that honesty is the central theme of their moves. For instance, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations (UN) under its organ- the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)- are suitable examples explaining the case. Considering its 17 Goals, the leaders, with the formulation of strict checks and balances mechanism in the form of reports and indexes, gauge every country’s progress, clearly showing their pure and honest intentions for the people globally. Hence, their pursuit of ensuring human rights attainment for all attests to their honesty, making others believe that no legacy is so rich as honesty.
Correspondingly, if people stop giving honesty due importance, they become more suspicious in their daily dealings, which may make them prone to severe health issues. Verily, their apprehension gives rise to Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD). When this disorder becomes uncontrollable, it may lead to the risk of self-harm to others at the hands of that person, like that in John Hinckley Jr.’s case. In his case, John’s PPD, as a result of his interpersonal conflict, enviousness, and paranoid fantasies, made him so blind that he attempted the assassination attack on former US President Ronald Reagan just to impress Jodie Foster, with whom he was obsessed. Thus, even in thought processes, neglecting honesty may develop criminal mindsets in a vulnerable society.
Additionally, unrestricted moral relativism and manipulating governance and legal systems for personal gains become the norm when states show extreme disregard for honesty. Verily, this new normal at its worst may end democratic practices in countries. And the Arab Spring 3.0 would become the future of not all but the Arab countries especially. As these countries have already seen the dire consequences of this movement dually, they may implode due to this third round, bringing total collapse to the fragile, whimpering nations. So, the future might be bleak if honesty becomes the last resort practice of states.
Furthermore, amplifying global tensions due to stakeholders’ dishonest practices may trigger the third world war. Already, states are in a constant tussle over geo-political and strategic gains, which is seen in the form of the Russian-Ukraine war, the Palestine conundrum, etc. If these do not quench their power thirst, they become unbridled and practice all brutal means, overthrowing the honesty principle, to gain hegemony. Similarly, unresolved climate crises may heat sovereignty debates in Antarctica, triggering the third world war, as juggernauts have already started their claim games there. Therefore, misery and barbarity would become the world’s fate whenever honesty is ignored in the acts.
Nevertheless, if everyone understands the true meaning of the quote, ‘No legacy is so rich as honesty,’ multiple prospects would be assumed globally, which would be helpful in the development of a friendlier society. Straightly speaking about the first one, when everyone practices honesty in his life, life will become more accessible, especially in the case of leader-public relations in under-developed countries. Certainly, their leaders would burn the midnight oil to strengthen them socially, economically, and politically, and ultimately, those states would achieve the highest rank in the Human Capital Indexes, like Singapore, standing at 0.88 according to the last World Bank survey. In this way, the grievances of every section of society would be aired, and the trust between leaders and the public would be increased. So, observing truth in every task may make the legacy of honesty inevitable.
Besides this, absolute social justice may be achieved when everyone learns and exercises honesty daily. By doing so, all evils, such as corruption, jingoism, crimes, harassment, and many others, would be nipped in the bud; justice would become the order of the day. And the now lowest-ranked countries, such as Venezuela, Cambodia, Afghanistan, etc., would also rank high in the WJP Rule of Law Index. Thus, everyone can live freely with the promise of general will and happiness, promulgating the legacy of honesty to its peak.
Last but not least, transparency in all international and diplomatic decisions would be observed due to the regular practice of honesty by influencing others. Through this activity, sound gestures in the name of courtesy would become the norm of the modern day, and aggression, confrontations, deterrence, and retaliation might end. To illustrate, the Kashmir-like disputes may be settled amicably. Thus, wars and conflicts would end; peace and cooperation would also become the normalized practice among the states globally, highlighting the legacy of honesty as the richest among everything.
Therefore, everyone can improve his life by truly applying the message in the quote, ‘No legacy is so rich as honesty’. First, everyone has to practice self-honesty by becoming authentic and truthful. When he does this regularly, he will start feeling it is his ultimate responsibility to make others’ lives happier, too. And so forth, new ideologies, saints, and personalities fostering pluralism and honesty, as discussed above, will born on the planet Earth. Thus, making truthfulness the primary goal of life will help people understand the true meaning of the maxim and live a more satiated life.
Second, one can learn the true meaning of the quote by fostering a culture of honesty in society. It can be possible by patiently understanding the problems of the marginalized ones and spreading empathy by considering it as an obligatory duty. In this way, everyone will respect each other’s needs and yearn to fulfil them. Moreover, the Hobbesian rule will end, and individual liberty will be uprighted, making honesty the all-time most prosperous legacy. Thus, an ideal society will become like the one formed by the last prophet of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad (SAAW), in Medina, setting already an example for the rest of the world.
Finally, there is a dire need to focus on considering equality and integrity while making decisions at the national and international levels. Via this initiative, everyone’s rights will be preserved, and it will also bring all forms of violence, demonstrations, suicide attempts, bias, gender discrimination, and other issues to an end. After diminishing all these negativities, unity and diversity will promote like people also experienced during COVID-19 and bring more fortune for the world’s people, making honesty the best-ever legacy for the world.
Critically, the rich form of the legacy of honesty gives people an essence of the enduring value of integrity and truth in their lives. Indeed, the central theme of the quote vocalizes that people should recognize the essence’s importance while experiencing the complexities of their lives and when they are on the verge of giving up on it. Moreover, it also motivates people that only honesty is worth living and lasting span, and all other forms of fraud, material gains, and false habits are short-lived. So, to weave a cob-web society, integrating everyone equally in its thread, people should learn all moral rules and make them the basis of their actions.
In conclusion, the simple yet wise, eye-opening quote gives a valuable lesson for people of all ages and times. Without any supposition, spreading the message of honesty in all forms of life at all levels offers people of the future a rich heritage that any other form of fabricated ideas can never mar. Likewise, understanding its real essence will make the world favourable for all sections of society. However, the critical viewpoints standing midway negate the accuracy of its rich yardstick, but still, the legacy of honesty remains atop. It is because man loves to be harmonious, caring, and mild as a part of his nature, which can be strengthened enough by observing the true principles of honesty in daily practices.
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