Confucius says “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home”.

Moral values are

set of principles guiding us to evaluate what is right or wrong. Moral values such as integrity,

determination, loyalty, truthfulness, honesty, giving respect to each other, etc. help shape

the character and personality of individuals. According to Confucius, these moral values can

be best adopted at an individual family level. Confucius saw the family as the sole origin

and foundation of the nation. The family being the smallest unit in the nation,

plays a very important role in ensuring the stability and progress of the nation. The

principle adopted by Confucius that, “people should not do to others what they don’t want to

be done to them” is best applicable in the family level. It means people should treat others as

they would want to be treated themselves, as in, if one wants to be treated a certain way,

one should treat others in that way. If everyone were to follow this rule, everyone would be

treated well and by ensuring order and harmony at an individual family level, it becomes automatic

that the nation as a whole will have the order. This is so because a nation is a combination of

homes which are built of different family members.

It’s only by cultivating love among family members that the nation in turn can demonstrate

love. Without love and mutual respect by all family members, whether parent or child,

it is impossible to instil the high moral values we would like to see everyone achieve. As such,

the more families that do demonstrate mutual love and respect, the more harmonious the

coexistence of the wider community, whether local, national or global, will improve.