Practice modes
Languages & Literature
Pakistan
World & History
Honesty and moral consistency in word and deed
Integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles, and acting on them consistently, even when no one is watching and even at personal cost.
The word comes from the Latin 'integer', meaning whole or complete. A person of integrity is 'whole': their words match their actions, and their private conduct matches their public image. In public service, the Nolan principles describe integrity as avoiding any obligation to people or organizations that might try inappropriately to influence official work.
An officer in charge of awarding a contract learns that one bidder is her relative. She declares the relationship, steps back from the decision and lets it be made fairly by others. A district officer refuses a large bribe to approve an illegal construction, even though colleagues have accepted similar offers.
Islam places great emphasis on amanah (trustworthiness) and sidq (truthfulness). The Quran commands: 'Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due' (An-Nisa 4:58). The Prophet (PBUH) was known as 'Al-Amin' (the trustworthy) even before prophethood, and he warned that betraying a trust is a sign of hypocrisy.
Integrity is the foundation on which all other public service values rest. A public servant without integrity cannot be impartial, objective or truly dedicated.