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'''Sincerity''' is the [[virtue]] of one who speaks truly about his or her own [[feelings]], [[thoughts]], desires. Sincere expression carries risks to the speaker, since the ordinary screens used in everyday life are opened to the outside world. At the same time, we expect our [[friends]], our lovers, our leaders "to be sincere".

'''Sincerity''' is the [[virtue]] of one who speaks truly about his or her own [[feelings]], [[thoughts]], desires. Sincere expression carries risks to the speaker, since the ordinary screens used in everyday life are opened to the outside world. At the same time, we expect our [[friends]], our lovers, our leaders "to be sincere".

==Sincerity in Western societies==

==Sincerity in Western societies==

Discussed by Aristotle in his ''Nicomachean Ethics'', where "truthfulness or sincerity is a desirable mean state between the deficiency of [[irony]] or self-deprecation and the excess of boastfulness"[1] [2], it appears as an [[ideal]] ([[virtue]]) in Europe and North America in the 17th century; and it gained considerable momentum during the [[Romantic movement]], when sincerity was first celebrated as an artistic and social ideal. Indeed, in mid- to late-nineteenth century America, sincerity was an [[idea]] reflected in [[manner]]isms, hairstyles, women's dress, and the literature of the time.

Discussed by Aristotle in his ''Nicomachean Ethics'', where "truthfulness or sincerity is a desirable mean state between the deficiency of [[irony]] or self-deprecation and the excess of boastfulness"[1] [2], it appears as an [[ideal]] ([[virtue]]) in Europe and North America in the 17th century; and it gained considerable momentum during the [[Romantic movement]], when sincerity was first celebrated as an artistic and social ideal. Indeed, in mid- to late-nineteenth century America, sincerity was an [[idea]] reflected in [[manner]]isms, hairstyles, women's dress, and the literature of the time.

Literary [[critic]] Lionel Trilling dealt with the subject of sincerity, its roots, its [[evolution]], its moral quotient, and its relationship to authenticity in a series of lectures published under the title ''Sincerity and Authenticity.''

Literary [[critic]] Lionel Trilling dealt with the subject of sincerity, its roots, its [[evolution]], its moral quotient, and its relationship to authenticity in a series of lectures published under the title ''Sincerity and Authenticity.''

==Sincerity in Confucian societies==

==Sincerity in Confucian societies==

Sincerity is notably developed as a [[virtue]] in Confucian societies (China, Korea, and Japan). The [[concept]] of chéng (誠、诚) as expounded in two of the Confucian classics, the Da Xue and the Zhong Yong is generally translated as sincerity. As in the west, the term implies a congruence of avowal and inner feeling, but inner feeling is in turn ideally responsive to [[ritual]] propriety and social [[hierarchy]]. Specifically, Confucian's Analects contains the following statement in Chapter I: (主忠信。毋友不如己者。過，則勿憚改。) "Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Then no friends would not be like yourself (all friends would be as loyal as yourself). If you make a mistake, do not be afraid to correct it."

Sincerity is notably developed as a [[virtue]] in Confucian societies (China, Korea, and Japan). The [[concept]] of chéng as expounded in two of the Confucian classics, the Da Xue and the Zhong Yong is generally translated as sincerity. As in the west, the term implies a congruence of avowal and inner feeling, but inner feeling is in turn ideally responsive to [[ritual]] propriety and social [[hierarchy]]. Specifically, Confucian's Analects contains the following statement in Chapter I: "Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Then no friends would not be like yourself (all friends would be as loyal as yourself). If you make a mistake, do not be afraid to correct it."

Thus, even today, a powerful leader will praise leaders of other realms as "sincere" to the extent that they know their place. In Japanese the character for cheng may be pronounced makoto, and carries still more strongly the sense of loyal avowal and [[belief]].

Thus, even today, a powerful leader will praise leaders of other realms as "sincere" to the extent that they know their place. In Japanese the character for cheng may be pronounced makoto, and carries still more strongly the sense of loyal avowal and [[belief]].

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] and most scholars state that sincerity from sincere is derived from the Latin sincerus meaning clean, [[pure]], sound (1525–35). Sincerus may have once meant "one growth" (not mixed), from sin- (one) and crescere (to grow). Crescere derives from "Ceres," the goddess of grain, as in "cereal."[3][4]

The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] and most scholars state that sincerity from sincere is derived from the Latin sincerus meaning clean, [[pure]], sound (1525–35). Sincerus may have once meant "one growth" (not mixed), from sin- (one) and crescere (to grow). Crescere derives from "Ceres," the goddess of grain, as in "cereal."[3][4]

==Quote==

==Quote==

The keys of the kingdom of [[heaven]] are: sincerity, more sincerity, and more sincerity. All men have these keys. Men use them--advance in [[spirit]] [[status]]--by [[decisions]], by more decisions, and by more decisions. The highest [[moral]] choice is the choice of the highest possible [[value]], and always--in any [[sphere]], in all of them--this is to choose to do the will of God.[http://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper39.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper39.html&line=147#mfs]

The keys of the kingdom of [[heaven]] are: sincerity, more sincerity, and more sincerity. All men have these keys. Men use them--advance in [[spirit]] [[status]]--by [[decisions]], by more decisions, and by more decisions. The highest [[moral]] choice is the choice of the highest possible [[value]], and always--in any [[sphere]], in all of them--this is to choose to [[do the will of God]].[https://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=https://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper39.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper39.html&line=147#mfs]

==References==

==References==