What other virtue of the same order is necessary (not indeed for the sake of others precisely, but for the sake of him who acts) for the well-being of society?
It is the virtue of truthfulness (CIX.).
What is meant by truthfulness?
By this is meant that virtue which inclines us to manifest ourselves in all things both in words and in deeds, such as we really are (CIX. 1-4).
What are the sins opposed to this virtue?
They are lying, pretence, and hypocrisy (CX.-CXIII.).
What is lying?
It is the fact of speaking or of acting in such wise that knowingly one expresses or signifies what is not (CX. 1).
Is it evil to do this?
Yes, for it is essentially bad, and under no pretext whatsoever can it become good (CX. 3).
But is one always bound in word and deed to say or to signify what is the truth?
No, one is not always bound to say or to signify what is the truth; but one may never knowingly say or signify what is not the truth (CX. 3).
Next - The Catechism of the Summa - XXXVI. OF TRUTHFULNESS -- AND OF THE SINS OPPOSED THERETO: OF LYING; OF PRETENCE; AND OF HYPOCRISY (B)
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