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We should handle all matters, major or minor, with caution, and not be negligent.”
In ancient times, the sage, Confucius, praised Zi Chan (a statesman) for possessing the four virtues of a gentlemen: “acting with humility and dignity”, “serving his superior with respect”, “caring and providing for his people”, and “being just and fair while employing their service”. A person cannot break away from these four principles as he works in society.
“Acting with humility and dignity” is about making careful choices. And when one has made up one’s mind to do something, one should face whatever hardships that come along the way with humility, and complete the task in a cautious and respectful manner. Even after the task is completed, the person must not be careless or negligent, and he should maintain the initial aspiration he had when he decided to take up the task.
“Serving his superior with respect” — In modern times, this means showing respect to our seniors and the elderly, and being polite to our peers as well. While working in a team, we must cultivate a strong team spirit, because it requires the effort of and input from many to successfully complete the work. Thus, we should be grateful to each other and treat each other with sincerity. Even in our daily interactions with our family and friends, we should practise courtesy, as disputes may easily arise when there is a lack of respect and gratitude.
“Caring and providing for his people” — If the ruler of a nation puts the interest of his people at heart, he is certainly a noble person, and his people will definitely repay him with their loyalty. If the management of a corporation cares for its staff and works for their well-being, then naturally, the company will have smooth operations. In a nutshell, people who are capable should work for the better welfare of the masses, and not just for themselves.
“Being just and fair while employing people’s service” means to handle matters and utilize human resources reasonably and appropriately. For example, some employers may exploit their workers and are unwilling to remunerate them accordingly, while some may even resort to wage deduction for whatever self-justified reasons. They neglect the hardships of their workers, and this is unethical.
The purpose of me sharing the wisdom of Confucius, is to encourage everyone to implement these four principles in daily life, as these teachings will benefit ourselves as well as others. We must always ask ourselves: Have we shown gratitude to others, and do we treat others with courtesy and respect?
Gratitude, etiquette, courtesy, and respect are all basic values that each of us must uphold in our daily lives. In our interactions with others, we must always remember to think from their point of view, and be reasonable and fair. In doing so, we are refining our character. This is also the principle of being human and the bearing of a gentleman.
Extracted from “Sheng Huo De Zhi Hui”《生活的智慧》
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
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