Truth and Lies: The Weight of Life Under the Scales

Observatory Map : source (Pixabay)

The Weight of Your Inner Scales

Do you recognize the symbol of justice? Even if you don't, you've surely heard of scales. Scales represent fairness and separate truth from falsehood.

I bet you've wrestled with whether to tell a lie at some point in your life—even a small one. Whatever decision you made, you weighed truth against deception on your own scales, which means you carry scales within your heart.

So let me ask you: What are your "scales"? Better yet, what does "truth" mean to you? Have you ever really thought about it?

Your words are both weapons and contracts. You can kill someone with your words or save them. That's why language is the most powerful weapon of all—it creates promises and ensures they're kept. This is what I define as our scales.

The world I see operates on constant contracting and fulfillment. That's why we must always speak the truth. I know you'll want to argue against this.

But if you believe it's acceptable to lie, then you don't deserve to enjoy everything this society offers you.

Early humanity lived in tribal communities, and the foundation that developed and sustained society was promises—contracts.

The clean streets you saw this morning exist because someone honored their commitment according to their scales. The clothes you're wearing represent someone else's commitment too.

What if you lived in a city of liars? The streets would be filled with people breaking their word, and someone could claim the house you bought yesterday as their own. Isn't that terrifying?

No one would work—everyone would simply lie to get what they want. Breaking your word once is difficult, but doing it repeatedly becomes easy. That's why words must function as contracts that are always honored.

You might argue that exceptions exist. Are you really willing to corrupt words—which hold the same value as contracts—with lies? Every word you speak represents your credibility and character.

I believe our words define our worth as human beings.

Imagine you're a hiring manager. The candidate might become your employee, and their qualifications are perfect. But what if you encounter someone who habitually lies?

Would you hire them? On my scales, I'd choose truth over skill every time. Because all their abilities could be fabricated too. Let's consider another scenario.

Thoughtless, casual discriminatory remarks about gender, race, skin color, and other differences. Did you consider how the person hearing those words feels?

Nobody chose their birth circumstances—not even geniuses like Einstein or Newton. If we could choose, we'd all be celebrities or brilliant minds.

How does the person who heard your words feel? They might experience shame or even contemplate something terrible. Instead, let's accept people as they are and see them as valued members of our community.

Let's embrace them warmly, regardless of who they are. Then the outcome will change completely.

With your words and scales, you can kill or save a person. It's like the difference between stabbing someone with a sword in war and a doctor saving someone through surgery.

I believe the same applies to truth. Are your scales truly fair? Are the prejudices you place on your scales—the source of discrimination—really your own decisions?

Imagine becoming the world's ultimate judge. As an absolute being, abandon human emotions and view everything from a third-party perspective, but recognize that all life is equal.

A human killed an insect. How would you rule?

According to available law, "killing" is considered murder. You must hold them accountable for murder-related crimes. If you've truly abandoned human emotions, you could make this judgment.

Otherwise, you'll place different values of life on your scales.

What about exceptions? Soon after, the next trial begins and a human defendant argues:

"Why did you let the previous person off but not me?"

Will you make an exception again? Even if you try to revoke the exception, it's already too late. Imagine this repeating endlessly—before you know it, you'll let everyone pass.

For this reason alone, principles and rules must be absolutely maintained. Furthermore, the words that establish these rules must also be honored as scales.

Have you heard the saying, "Those who steal needles will steal cows"? What's the difference?

As small things accumulate, principles and rules eventually become meaningless. The same applies to truth and lies. If you lie about small things, you'll eventually lie about big things.

On a peaceful day, imagine a friend rushes over asking you to hide them, and you agree. Shortly after, someone with a knife arrives and threatens you to reveal your friend's whereabouts. What choice would you make?

Would you tell the truth and potentially endanger your friend's life? Or would you prioritize friendship and keep them hidden?

I would tell the truth. But before calling my friend, I'd send a signal: "Hey! We have a visitor! Could you set the table? Oh wait, we're out of groceries—could you run out and buy some right now!"

The story changes. I didn't lie and I didn't point anyone out. How's that? Isn't it like killing two birds with one stone?

Consider another situation. An extremely agitated friend comes looking for the knife they left with you. If you return the knife, a terrible murder might occur somewhere. What would you choose?

Your choice and mine would be very different.

I would return the knife to my friend, but with a condition.

"In exchange for the knife, stab me."

Why? Because if my close friend kills someone, they'll surely become a murderer and waste their remaining destiny. Besides, since I was entrusted with the knife, it's my legitimate right.

People are more impulsive than we think, but they're also rational—they'll gamble with fate on their scales. If they're truly a close friend, they won't stab me. If not, they'll stab me impulsively and gain a chance to reflect on their actions.

Either outcome is welcome.

If I'm not stabbed, I've gained an irreplaceable close friend and prevented them from becoming a murderer. If the opposite happens and they stab me, I've prevented harm to others besides myself, so that's fine too.

This is how I see the world.

That's why I emphasize truth in my words, even if they might hurt. Truth allows you to observe and reflect on yourself. If you dislike this, there's nothing I can do about it.

I don't only say sweet things. You can leave if you want—I won't change. If you want to return, you're welcome anytime.

If you're my true friend, I'll always be a refuge where you can stay.

People are forced to weigh truth and lies on their inner scales, and the same words can produce different outcomes.

That's why you must speak only the truth. Even if it lacks warmth, providing opportunities for growth is what makes a true friend and the beginning of profound connections.

Because easily formed relationships easily end.

I swear this: I will speak only the truth, hanging my inner scales on a star that will exist until Earth's destruction. If that's impossible, I'll make it true within a reasonable timeframe, however long it takes.

What do you think of my determination? How about joining the path of truth yourself?

Place yourself on the scales of truth. You'll gain the genuine inner scales that practice truth.

Writer

Mirseo | Developer & Philosopher

Exploring the intersection of technology and philosophy to understand our world.

GitHub: @mirseo | Blog: https://blog.mirseo.dev

Writer Text

Originally written by JunHyeok-Seo(Mirseo) in Korean, translated and adapted

Korean version available at mirseo.dev

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