FIRST, you must determine and follow what the halacha expects of you, and do not compromise on it unless you are in danger. Compromising on it includes falsifying it – such as telling someone that something is or isn’t a Torah value, when in fact the opposite might be true, or the Torah doesn’t really talk about the issue.
THEN, determine how you might go beyond what the halacha expects of you, in order to establish and maintain good relationships with people, and gain their respect. When you do this, once you are already trying to follow the first step, the world will say upon you – “Praiseworthy are the teacher and the parents who taught this one Torah!” This is a great kiddush Hashem.
If you choose to take the second step but ignore the first, then you aren’t being mekadesh Hashem, you are being mekadesh yourself.
Sam2 –
See the Rambam’s Ma’amar Kiddush Hashem. He gives a lot (5?) of definitions, all of which are true.
I never hold with “The Seforim.” They are too unpredictable.
Lol