54. Integrity does not exist
Complete, perfect integrity is an illusion, because SPs live in a broken world and human nature itself is broken. For that reason an SP cannot possess complete integrity. The positive sides of this are that (1) there is no need for panic if SPs are found to lack integrity, (2) SPs do not need to claim to fully possess integrity, and (3) the completely corrupt SP does not exist either.
Having passed the halfway mark in the book, the title of this chapter may seem disillusioning, denying the existence of integrity in a book on the subject. This title points to the fact that an SP cannot possess integrity. SPs with integrity do not exist. Complete, perfect integrity is an illusion, just like the idea that a person can be completely loving, helpful, or sympathetic. Why is that?
Firstly there is the issue of a broken world. The world itself lacks integrity. Society is full of tensions and conflicts. Corruption, criminality, injustice, and unfairness are all around. Instead of harmony or balance, there is fragmentation, dispersion, imbalance.308 It is no different within organizations. According to scientists Margaret Wheatley and Myron Kellner, organizations are characterized by multiple personality disorder.309 Organizations are incoherent, lacking a single voice, due to different interests and conflicts over scarce resources. This makes them imperfect, lacking integrity. In such a world and in such organizations it is difficult to act with integrity as an SP. However, that does not make it impossible.
What does make it impossible, the second element, is that human nature itself is broken. Human flesh is weak. Human nature is selfish, causing internal tension. There is evil in everyone. “Every man has a price,” as Abraham Lincoln said.310 That is why humans lack integrity.
Looking at integrity in this light helps eliminate an anxious knee-jerk response when someone is labeled as lacking integrity. There is nothing wrong with it: that is human nature. Behaving without integrity is a sign of humanity. Seeing someone as lacking integrity does not necessarily mean that this person is no good. People can be suited to a position or job despite not having integrity. The same goes for two people who may be meant for one another as life partners despite regularly having their differences.
The fact that integrity does not exist therefore means that SPs do not need to profess to have integrity, and it is important to watch out for those who do. Such people may be hypocritical or lack self-knowledge. They may be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Appearing better than others is in any case dangerous, because this can create envy and feelings of inferiority, thereby inspiring unwanted opposition. Robert Greene advises the powerful never to create the impression of perfection.311 Spanish writer Baltasar Gracián even advised rulers to show at least one vice. Revealing an innocent vice can make others less envious, and what is seen as less morally praiseworthy can distract from more serious vices.312
Another positive side of the non-existence of integrity is that the opposite, corruption, is equally non-existent, at least in the sense that no one can be completely corrupt and fragmented. Everyone has at least something good, some virtue. Without a certain level of integrity it would be impossible to function.313 SPs would have no sense of standards, no self-control, and no self-awareness. So calling someone corrupt is a denial of the integrity they possess and with it an expression that in itself lacks integrity. For that reason it is better not to make such accusations.