I once served under a ruler who valued only his own will. When I spoke of ritual, he called me obstructive; when I urged him to care for the poor, he said it cost too much silver. They did not ask if my heart was true, but whether my words fit their comfort. In such a place, an upright man finds no room to stand. To walk straight in a crooked world is to stumble against every wall. One cannot please those who have abandoned the way, yet one must not bend to join them either. The only choice remains to serve where virtue is still possible, even if it means bearing heavy burdens alone.

What do you do when your house demands you lie? If you are a father, you teach your son truth by your own silence or speech. If you are a ruler, you govern not by force but by the example of your daily conduct. Do not wait for permission to be good; begin now with one honest word and one just act. Let your life show that integrity is not a burden but the only path to peace.