Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.

"Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends." These profound words by Aristotle call us to consider the relationship between truth and loyalty, and the moral obligation to prioritize integrity above all else, even when it risks estranging those we hold dear. In Aristotle’s view, piety—which encompasses reverence and respect, particularly toward the gods and moral law—demands a commitment to the truth that transcends personal relationships. It is a call to honor what is right and just, regardless of the personal cost. This teaching is not merely about adhering to facts but about recognizing that true piety requires living in accordance with the highest moral truths, which may sometimes stand in opposition to the wishes or beliefs of our friends, family, or peers.

In the ancient world, truth and piety were seen as inseparable. The Greek philosophers, particularly Socrates and Plato, often spoke of the pursuit of truth as not only an intellectual endeavor but a moral duty. Socrates, whose devotion to truth cost him his life, believed that the good life was not one of comfort or popularity, but one rooted in the pursuit of virtue and truth, even when it meant standing in opposition to the authorities of his time. His refusal to back down from his beliefs—whether in his rejection of the gods as the Athenians saw them or in his insistence on questioning the status quo—embodied the idea that truth cannot be subordinated to personal relationships or societal pressures. Aristotle’s words, then, are part of this larger tradition that regards truth as a foundational pillar of virtue.

This tension between loyalty to friends and honoring the truth can be seen in the lives of many figures throughout history. Consider the example of Antigone, the heroine of the ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles. In the play, Antigone defies the king’s order not to bury her brother, who has been deemed a traitor to the state. Her loyalty to family and to the moral truth of honoring the dead outweighs her obedience to the king’s decree. For Antigone, piety—which in this context includes honoring familial duty and the laws of the gods—requires that she place the truth of what is morally right above any political or social loyalty. In doing so, she embodies Aristotle’s notion that true piety demands the courage to honor the truth, even at great personal cost.

Similarly, in the life of Socrates, we find an example of a man who valued truth above his own personal relationships and even his own life. When Socrates was asked by the authorities of Athens to cease his questioning of their laws and beliefs, he refused. Socrates could have saved himself by giving the authorities what they wanted—he could have abandoned his pursuit of the truth and accepted the societal norms. But his commitment to truth and virtue was greater than his loyalty to the opinions of the people or even his loved ones. His refusal to back down from his truth ultimately led to his execution, but in doing so, he became a martyr for the principle that truth is above all else. Aristotle would have seen Socrates as the embodiment of piety in this regard: a man who honored the truth even more than his own personal safety.

In more modern times, we can look to figures like Martin Luther King Jr., who, in his fight for civil rights, often found himself at odds with friends and allies who were either complacent or fearful of taking a stand against the injustice of their time. King’s commitment to truth and justice was rooted in a deep piety toward the moral principles of equality and human dignity. His decision to challenge the status quo, even at the risk of losing friendships and facing personal harm, reflected his understanding that truth—in the form of nonviolent resistance to oppression—must always come before personal comfort or loyalty to the forces of injustice. Like Antigone and Socrates, King understood that piety required him to honor the truth of his cause above all else.

The lesson we learn from Aristotle’s quote is one of moral courage and integrity. Piety, in its truest sense, is not about blind loyalty to those around us or adherence to conventions, but about honoring the truth in the deepest sense. We are reminded that the pursuit of truth may lead us to challenge the beliefs of those we love or the norms of the society we belong to, but true virtue requires that we stand firm in what is right. The truth, however uncomfortable, is always the greater good. To live with integrity is to put truth above personal interests, above the desire to please others, and above the easy path of conformity.

In practical terms, this means that we must be willing to make difficult choices in our own lives—choices that may not align with the expectations or desires of those around us. Whether it’s speaking out against injustice, challenging a friend who perpetuates a lie, or making sacrifices in pursuit of a greater moral truth, we must recognize that the courage to honor the truth is the foundation of a truly virtuous life. Just as Socrates, Antigone, and Martin Luther King Jr. did, we too must be prepared to place the truth above temporary comforts, knowing that by doing so, we align ourselves with the highest moral principles.

Let us, then, take Aristotle’s wisdom into our hearts and strive to honor the truth above all else. Let us have the courage to live with integrity, knowing that in doing so, we contribute to a world built on justice, honesty, and virtue. Piety, when understood in its fullest sense, is not about allegiance to people or institutions but to the truth that transcends them all. By embracing this understanding, we find that the greatest loyalty we can show is to the truth itself, for in that pursuit lies the very essence of virtue and wisdom.