Confucius: Who Is a Good Citizen

¶ … Citizen in the Analects of Confucius

A good citizen ought to have a number of qualities and behave in a certain way. To determine what it means to be a good citizen, one could consult the Analects of Confucius and relate the teachings therein to current events and happenings. From the onset, it would be prudent to point out that a significant portion of Confucius' teachings dwelt on the subject of good governance and other equally important social teachings.

To begin with, it is important to note that to be a good citizen, one ought to accept their role in the society. When questioned on government, Confucius replied in no uncertain terms that the ruler ought to be a ruler, and the subject ought to be a subject (Watson 17). A good citizen respects the hierarchies of power. Further, still on respecting the hierarchies of power, Confucius pointed out that subjects must neither oppose a ruler openly, nor deceive him (Watson 30). In today's society, it is not uncommon to hear of aides being accused of insubordination. It has also become fashionable for those defeated in political contests to dispute results even in those instances whereby elections are conducted in a free and fair manner. A good citizen is cognizant of the fact that there can only be one ruler.

Good citizens also serve their rulers, and by extension their countries, diligently and faithfully. Those who fail to offer service to the ruler, and by extension their motherlands, "lack rightness" (Watson 22). Still on the making of a good citizen, it should be noted that a good citizen also ought to be a 'person of action' and work hard in whatever it is that he or she undertakes. Indeed, it is by working hard that such an individual contributes towards not only his prosperity, but also that of his or her nation. Action, and not empty rhetoric, should be the guiding principle of a good citizen. While seeking political office, politicians have been known to make all manner of promises. At the time of making such promises, these individuals are not only aware, but also certain of the fact that theirs are empty promises that stand no chance of being fulfilled. Such individuals are not good citizens. As Confucius observed, "he who speaks irresponsibly will find it hard to put his words into action" (Watson 29). A good citizen is therefore a person of action -- for it is through action that he or she can help develop his or her nation.

Humanness is also a pointer towards good citizenship. Confucius referred to humanness as the "beauty of the community" (Watson 24). In basic terms, humanness has got to do with behaving in a civilized, caring, and humane manner. When one acts in a manner that is deliberately injurious to the interests of another person, such an individual is seen as having acted in an inhumane way, and cannot therefore be regarded humane.

Next, a good citizen also ought to be a person of virtue. To uphold virtue, Confucius advised that one ought to "concentrate on loyalty and trustworthiness and follow what is right" (Watson 17). This is a principle that should largely apply to those holding public office or other positions of responsibility. In the past, we have seen public officials and officers of private enterprises being hauled to court for engaging in fraud and other malpractices. Such individuals do not have what it takes to be good citizens. There is no shortage, however, of good citizens holding public office today.

Fairness is yet another determinant of good citizenship. Indeed, a good citizen ought to believe in fairness. There is no honor in having plenty while others are languishing in abject poverty. The relevance of equal distribution of wealth cannot be overstated. After all, "a nation or a family does not worry that it has little but that that little is unevenly apportioned, does not worry that it is poor but that it is unstable" (Watson 11). When members of the society discard selfish tendencies, this is an indication of good citizenship. Societies can only eliminate poverty if they embrace equality, ensure that no citizen is marginalized in the distribution of resources, and ensure that wealth is distributed evenly. Citizens have a role to play in this, in that they should not pursue material gain at the expense of fairness. After all, good citizens are mindful of the welfare of their fellow citizens. Confucius refers to those who think of comfort and the favors they ought to receive as small men. In his opinion, to be superior, one's thoughts ought to be preoccupied with virtue and legal sanctions.