Back in July of 2018, I wrote a blog about Charlie Munger and a commencement address he made at Harvard in 1986. Munger died a year ago at the age of 99. He was Warren Buffet’s business partner and best friend. Buffet believed Munger was one of the wisest, most knowledgeable people he had ever known.

In Munger’s commencement address at Harvard, his speech was titled “Prescription for Misery.” He said that he can guarantee you a miserable life if you are unreliable and not do what you say you will do. He said it is the best way to sabotage your life, your relationships, and your career.

I was recently reading about the great Roman statesman and General Marcus Atilius Regulus who served from 267 B.C. to 256 B.C. Much of his career was spent fighting the Carthaginians. In 256 B.C. his enemy defeated him and he became a prisoner of war.

He would languish in Carthage for five years, almost a thousand miles from Rome, away from his family, reduced to slavery, dressed in rags, hopeless and helpless. All seemed lost, until again, after yet another reversal on the battlefield, Carthage wanted peace and sent him back to Rome to negotiate a prisoner swap and an end to the hostilities.

Free of Carthage, the sea wind in his face, Regulus headed home. The war hero back after so many years away. Back from the dead. Back with his family. Far from the clutches of the enemy.

After Regulus dutifully delivered Carthage’s message, he had advice of his own to add: The offer must be rejected. Carthage was weak, he said, or they wouldn’t have sent me as leverage. Fight on. The war was winnable.

Grateful, the Romans followed his advice … and Regulus packed his bags. Not to rejoin the army, but to return to Carthage, as a prisoner. His friends were stunned. You’re safe now, why would you return? “I have sworn to them to return,” Regulus explained of the honor system he had been paroled on. “I will not transgress my oaths, not even when they have been given to enemies.”

He had told the Carthaginians that if Rome did not accept their terms, he would return as their prisoner. He had given his word and was going to do what he said he would do.

Stephen Covey says that honesty is to tell the truth, but that integrity is to do what you say you will do. It strikes me that you can be incredibly honest but not very reliable, particularly if you do not do what you say you will do. In other words you can be honest but not have integrity.

In Proverbs 22:1, King Solomon tells us that “A good name is more desirable than great riches.” If you truly want to have a good name, you need to be honest and have integrity. It will take you far in life.

Richard E Simmons III is the founder and Executive Director of The Center for Executive Leadership and a best-selling author.