English Language · English

Read the given passage and answer the question that follows: 'The incident left an indelible impression upon my mind. I had arrived late for gymnastics owing to a misjudgment of time, yet my explanation was summarily dismissed. The teacher, presuming dishonesty, imposed a fine. It was not the penalty that distressed me, but the imputation of falsehood. I wept - not out of guilt, but out of anguish that my integrity had been questioned in front of my peers. That moment awakened in me a deeper realisation: that one who walks the path of truth must also be vigilant in conduct, lest even innocent negligence be misconstrued as deceit or carelessness mistaken for dishonesty.' 'From such experiences, I gradually discerned that truth was more than the mere avoidance of lies. It demanded a consistency, a congruence between one's inner convictions and outward actions. To be truthful, I perceived, was to live in a manner that left little room for doubt or suspicion - not through manipulation, persuasion or self-defence, but through the transparent simplicity of honest living. The agony of being perceived as duplicitous, despite the purity of my intention, became a crucible in which my commitment to truth was refined and strengthened. It became evident to me that it would no longer suffice merely to speak the truth; one had to embody it to align thought, word and deed so completely that truth itself became visible in every aspect of life.' What can be inferred about the author's understanding of truth after the incident?