loyalty?

Loyalty! What is it exactly?

What is it about loyalty that makes it so hard to package into an easily understood concept? Does it appear at first glance to be easy to understand and even define? The definition that first appears in many dictionaries is “Loyalty: the quality of being loyal.” Does that clarify the concept, or does it demonstrate the nebulousness of what it means?

Is loyalty a positive quality that we value in our relationships? Is it a quality we appreciate in ourselves? Do we not, also, respect loyalty in animals, be they pets or even wild animals?

If loyalty is hard to define, is it easy to recognize? Is the lack of loyalty, even more obvious in others and ourselves?

“Loyalty is the pledge of truth to oneself and others.”
― Ada Velez-Boardley

Is it easier to be loyal to some people and causes because they inspire us? Does loyalty invite reciprocity? Does it require reciprocity?

Where do trust and honesty fit into the loyalty equation. Are they, in fact, necessary components of loyalty?

Does loyalty seem to be rarer and hard to find? Why? Is being self-centered becoming more common? Is there a correlation?

Are you a loyal person? To whom are you loyal? Are you loyal to yourself or are you more self-destructive? Do you admire loyalty in others? How do you define loyalty?