Confucius Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Confucius - Essay Example fill the duties that they are supposed to perform for their families and their parents, but where such people are just being dutiful yet having no respect, there simply will be no difference between feeding their parents and feeding their horses or dogs Confucius, 1355). Thus, respect is what measures the value of a relationship and thus earning it is a great advantage for an individual. Through applying virtue while treating others, respect will be borne, since virtue entails doing what one would expect of others to do to him/her, meaning earning respect out of giving respect to others. The rule of virtue is that â€Å"what you do not wish for yourself, do not wish for others† (Confucius, 1340). Additionally, treating others as one would expect to be treated by them is advantageous, since it will enable an individual to have more friends who surrounds him/her. This is because; the hallmark of achievement of an individual is the trustworthiness with which the individual has been serving others. Trustworthiness on the other hand cannot be cultivated without there being a good and noble relationship between an individual and those who surround him. Having friends is a major benefit for an individual, because friendship brings delight (Confucius, 1355). Secondly, the benefit that an individual reaps from treating others as one wish they would be treated is that; the individual gains contentment. Contentment is derived from the assurance that the others are reciprocating what an individual has done to them, where doing good will always be accompanied by being done good for. Therefore, all that is required to derive contentment in life is just â€Å"loyalty and reciprocity, and that’s all† (Confucius, 1336). Contentment is the result of an individual doing good and not boasting about his good qualities, and without even calling attention to his good deeds. The additional benefit that comes with this aspect of treating others as one would expect to be treated buy them