120 philosophical essays you must read in your life

Chapter 47

Chapter 3, Section 4

Sun Shengqi

That was a few years ago.A friend had a birthday, and he posted many posts in advance, agreeing to have a party in a dance hall on the night of his birthday.But the weather was not good, and it began to rain heavily that day from dusk.The appointed time was approaching, and without the slightest hesitation, I took up an umbrella and hurried to the appointment.When I arrived at the ballroom, I saw that it was empty, and no one at the party came except me.I ordered a glass of beer to drink alone, and after sitting and waiting for 10 minutes, I felt that no one would come, so I walked home slowly and reassuringly.

The next day, I met someone who also received the post. He asked: "Did you go to the dance hall last night?" Are you okay? How can you not go?" Now that the appointment is made, it is necessary to fulfill the appointment. I think this is nothing more than a normal thing.Although my relationship with the birthday guy is very ordinary, it is a bit reluctant to say that we are friends.I know that we are not going to get better because of my appointment in the rain (now I have no news from him).The reason why I do that.Just to live up to: not bad for that post, not bad for him thinking of me—after all, not everyone can make up the numbers.

It was a tailor in a suit shop downstairs from my house that reminded me of this almost forgotten thing.The tailor is a guy from Zhejiang. I got to know him gradually because I passed by that shop every day, and I always like to sit in his shop when I have free time.There is one thing that I have already noticed: every time the lining of a suit needs to be sealed after hanging, he always has to struggle to turn the lining out of the opening, then take out a pair of small scissors, and cut the top carefully. lint.

One day I couldn't bear it anymore, and finally said to him: "Why do you need to cut those thread ends? Seal the seal, 'until the clothes are worn out and thrown away, no one can see inside." He smiled lightly: "Other people I can’t see it, I can see it, if I don’t cut it, I will always feel uncomfortable.” His words made me chew for a long time, and somehow I suddenly remembered the appointment a few years ago, so I suddenly understood: His mood is the same as mine. It was the same at that time, just to live up to it—to live up to the craft and heart.In fact, he didn't know that he cut the thread ends that would never be seen if he didn't cut it, which neither made the suit more spacious nor attracted customers (it didn't take long for him to close due to lack of business. ), but after doing so, he feels at ease and feels that he can face customers calmly.

In this world, there are very few people who can do earth-shattering events, and there are few things that are worthy of our rhetoric "I would rather teach me to defeat the people of the world than to teach the world to defeat me". Live up to friendship, live up to promises, live up to responsibilities, live up to love and even life, these are things that we and other sentient beings have to face all the time, and we can completely do it.This kind of fulfillment has nothing to do with utilitarianism, that is, we do not expect to get any benefits from it, it is only related to a person's conduct, or even just his state of mind.Living with the heart of "live up" may not be able to get "live up" in return, but this has a great benefit: it can make oneself live without shame and live with peace of mind.As far as the mood is concerned, being worthy should be a supreme state.

【Together with you】

The most important thing in being a human being is to keep your word, keep your word, and keep your words and deeds in harmony.You must do what you promise to others, and you must fulfill the promise you promise to others. No matter whether others see it or not, there is a pair of eyes watching all this in your heart.If you can keep your word and do what you say, you will be worthy of your heart.Otherwise, you will be condemned by conscience.Honor is the dowry of virtue, the sweet reward of just toil, the crown of victory upon the thoughtful head of the incorruptible patriot, or the weather-beaten head of the victorious warrior.

(End of this chapter)