首孝悌。次谨信。

首孝悌。次谨信。 First, it teaches you how to be dutiful to your parents, and how to be respectful and loving to your siblings. Then it teaches you how to be cautious with all people, matters, and things in your daily life, and how to be a trustworthy person, and to believe in the teachings of the ancient saints and sages. {Note:“Xiao” and “Ti” have been the very foundation of Chinese culture for five thousand years. Xiao “孝” means to be dutiful to one’s parents with affection, and to understand the basic relationship of grandparents, parents and self. In ideogram form, xiao has two components- the top part of xiao is the top portion of the word elder “老” and the bottom part is the word son “子.” Combined, it implies that the older generation and the younger generation are one: that there should be no gap between them. The meaning is further extended. Outside the family, the child should treat every male and female of the parents’ generation as if they were the child’s own father and mother. Ti “悌” means sincere fraternal love. Here it is used more as the principle and standard of conduct of the younger brother towards his older brother when the younger brother is away from home. Its meaning also extends further to include conduct towards all older persons of any one generation. ”To believe in the teachings of the ancient saints and sages” means to actually practice and put the teachings of the ancient saints and sages into effect. } fànàizhòng érqīnrén 泛爱众。 而亲仁。 Furthermore, it teaches you to love all equally, and to be close to and learn from people of virtue and compassion.