This does not mean that you are to go about and tell everybody what a bad man you are. If you do that, they will soon begin to believe you and keep away from you.
Where there is smoke there is always some kind of a fire.
When you are wrong, say so without hesitation. Nobody is perfect, and all men have their faults.
In the business world every man wants to know every other man, then it will be safe to do business with him. But you can not know another without knowing his faults.
Concealment of one’s frailties is dangerous, and leads to harm if you are found out, and you are always found out. You are a suspicious character, and sometimes suspicions are “as strong as proofs of Holy Writ.”
You chew cloves to hide the fact that you have taken a drink. Why do you not say that you take a drink occasionally if that is the fact, and not try to hide the odor of the drink behind cloves? Nobody is deceived, and you get the reputation of being a steady drinker, which may be far from the truth.
You apply for a job, and you are asked: “Do you drink?” Why not answer bravely: “No, sir, not as a rule. I do take a drink once in a while, but will not do so anymore.” Your probable employer says to himself: “I can trust this man because he does not hide his faults, but confesses them and intends to avoid them.”
It is so with other faults that will weigh against you if concealed and found out.
DON’T BE A PESSIMIST, BE AN OPTIMIST
A pessimist is a man who has a constant grievance against somebody or something.