Confucius' Thought of Benevolence and Social Stability

Benevolence is the core of Confucius' thought and it is the fundamental principle and the highest code of his ethics. Starting from the ideological principle of benevolence, Confucius held that in handling human relations, love should be practiced. In appointing people, he advocated respecting one's virtuousness. In government administration, he advocated that the ruler should be personally upright, honest and self-disciplined in performing official duties on the one hand, and he should show solicitude for the common people, do them favors, make them rich, educate them and try to win their trust on the other. Confucius was opposed to tyrany and advocated handling social contradictions by means of virtues. Today, these ideas of Confucius' will provide us with a great deal of enlightenment in dealing with the relations among people and in promoting social harmony and stability.