The Loyalty Test

Covering a diverse range of scenarios, the virtue of loyalty is primarily determined by the ability of an individual to stand by an ally in testing times. Some govern loyalty by judging if an individual is able to keep secrets within a relationship while some test it by how staunchly a person can withstand adversity without cheating.

Loyalty, when well catered, can strengthen emotional trust between individuals or organizations resulting in a stable, rewarding & lasting relationships. But as most people are exposed to life's trauma in some way or the other at an early stage in their lives, most give room to doubt over trust in human nature. Once doubt flourishes within an individual's mind, a skeptical mindset is groomed to question any intention of goodwill in a relationship or fairness in any form of trade. This paves a path to build safeguards against any backlash that may possibly be encountered when expectations are betrayed. Such a doubting human nature is the result why there are laws, courts, quality checks and second or third reviews/opinions to test the integrity in anyone's character or work ethic.

Since majority of society is build on a metric system based trade affairs, the need for assurance in meeting demands is highly sought after. Trust is the sole component which manipulates decision of parties involved in any such formal or informal trade. And as loyalty to one's work, duty or relationship is the cornerstone of trust, it is a paramount virtue placed on a pedestal in all human relationships.

The wellknown fable of how two friends who are travelling in a forest react on seeing a bear sums the quality of loyalty. As one friend climbs a tree while the other who can’t climb plays dead, the testing adversity crumbles a relationship of trust. While the strong may forgive, the scars of a painful memory are rather hard to forget. And so there could be an iota of truth in the idiom, three persons can keep a secret if the other two are dead.