From Confucius to Kant: The Same Standard for All ___ 24/10-2026

Confucius said: “己所不欲，勿施于人” — “If you don’t want it done to you, don’t do it to others.”

This traditional Chinese saying influenced our Chinese deeply. Over the years, I have come to think more about what it really means.

Then one day, I learned about Kant’s idea:  “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.”

I found there is a strong connection between these two ideas.

Although they come from different cultures, both ask us to look beyond our own interests.

If I do not want others to treat me in a certain way, should I not use the same standard when I treat them?

Kant took this idea a step further. He asked us to think not only about how we want to be treated, but also whether the rule behind our action would work if everyone followed it.

People from different cultures may have different habits, experiences and ways of thinking. But when it comes to some basic questions about right and wrong, we may have more in common than we think.

The problem is not always that we do not know what is right. Sometimes, we are simply used to doing things in a certain way.

We learn from our families, our surroundings and our own experiences. After years and years many things start to feel normal. We accept them without asking whether they really make sense.

For me, it is important to ask myself a few simple questions in my working and daily life.

• Why do I believe this is right?
• If our position changed, would I still think the same way?
• Am I willing to follow the same standards that I expect from others?

Of course, knowing what is right does not mean we can always do it. Our interests, feeling and situation can affect our decisions.

But I believe it is important to keep thinking about our own actions and the reasons behind them.

This way of thinking also has shaped how I work for clients.

When a client trusts me with their business, I will do my best to make sure things are done well. At the same time, I also need to protect the interests of our workers and outside suppliers who are working hard for the clients.

We discuss cooperation, have different opinions and disagree on different things. That is part of business.

But I believe we should follow the same standard to doing things well.

Rather than spending too much time on things like guessing what others are thinking or testing each other etc, I prefer focus on solving problems and getting things done well together.

Perhaps better relationships and better business can start with one simple question:

If everyone followed the same rule, including myself, would I still believe it was right?