A Man of Modesty Will Extend His Good Fortune
 
The Duke of Zhou (Zhou Gong) was the brother of King Wu of Zhou (first king of the Zhou Dynasty) in ancient China. Only three years after defeating the Shang Dynasty, King Wu died in 1043 BC, leaving the task of consolidating the dynasty's power to the Duke of Zhou.
 
The Duke of Zhou assisted both King Wu and King Cheng (King Wu's young son) in ruling the Zhou Dynasty by virtue. He established proper codes of conduct for everyday life. In fact, he was revered as a saint by Confucius. King Cheng of Zhou once offered him the land of the Lu State, but Zhou Gong refused to accept the gift since he had important responsibilities to assist the king. King Cheng then decided to give the state of Lu to Bo Qin, the eldest son of Zhou Gong. When Bo Qin was about to leave for the State of Lu, the Duke of Zhou advised him solemnly, "You must never be proud or willful and you must never give in to your worldly desires. You must be modest at all times because that's the only way to rule your nation well and extend your good fortune."
 
Then the Duke of Zhou told Bo Qin, "Go. Don't act proud because you have been given the State of Lu as your estate. Don't neglect or be contemptuous towards the intellectuals there. I am a son of the late King Wen, a brother of the late King Wu and an uncle of the current King Cheng. I also shoulder the important responsibility of assisting King Cheng in ruling the country. I am in a very high position by many standards, but I continue to frequently come out of the bathroom three times when I wash my hair or stop eating dinner three times a night to receive guests. Nevertheless, I still worry about being rusty at social etiquette with intellectuals. I was told that a highly virtuous man will attain glory and honor if he is modest; that a man of many estates will have peace and prosperity if he regulates his desires and leads a frugal life; that a man of high stature will advance in nobility if he acts modestly; that a large army will triumph if it remains vigilant; that a smart and intelligent man will learn from other people if he acts like he knows nothing; and that a learned man with a photographic memory will expand his breath of knowledge if he is modest. These six points are the virtues of modesty. A wealthy ruler who owns the Four Seas stands to lose everything, including his own life, if he is not modest. King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty and Jie of the Xia Dynasty were both killed because of their arrogance. How could you not be modest or discreet? According to I Ching (The Book of Changes), there is a way to protect the world if you comply with it in a big way, to protect a nation if you comply with it in a medium way and to protect oneself if you comply with it in a small way. That is modesty. Heaven and Earth favor modest men and despise arrogant ones. Ghosts, spirits and mankind all loath arrogant men and take delight in modest men. You must bear my words in mind! You must never neglect the intellectuals because you have been given the State of Lu!"
 
The Duke of Zhou also told his sons, "A virtuous gentleman may be as strong as a bull, but he will never attempt to wrestle with a bull to prove that. A virtuous gentleman may be as fast as a horse, but he will never race with a horse to prove that. A virtuous gentleman may be as wise as a highly learned man, but he will never compete with a learned man to prove that."
 
There are numerous benefits to being modest. A man who treats others with modesty will win himself even more respect. A man who regulates his material desires and lives a frugal lifestyle will bring himself peace in the long run. A modest man will rise to higher places. A modest man is more likely to succeed. A modest man who does not brag about himself will be a role model. A modest man will broaden his horizon. Today's people will also benefit from being modest in the way they conduct themselves, interact with others, and learns new things.
 
有谦德　福运长
 
周公辅佐周朝两位君王以德政治理天下，又制礼作乐，建章立制，是深受孔子崇敬的圣人。当时周成王要封鲁地给周公，周公因有辅佐重任，推辞不受，于是成王将鲁地封给了周公的儿子伯禽。在伯禽要前往封地前，周公语重心长的告诫儿子，希望他万万不可骄淫放纵，一定要有谦德，这样才能治理好国家，福运绵长。
 
周公对儿子伯禽说道：“去吧，你不要因为受封鲁国而有骄色，从而怠慢轻视了士人。我是文王的儿子，武王的弟弟，现在成王的叔父，又身兼辅佐天子的重任，我的地位在天下也不算轻了，但我仍旧经常洗一次头要停三次，手握头发来招呼客人，吃一顿饭要停三次来接待客人，这样还唯恐怠慢失去了天下士人。我听说，德行广大者保持谦恭的态度，便会得到荣耀；土地广博富饶，节制欲望保持节俭，便会得到平安；官高位尊而保持卑微的心态，便会更显尊贵；人多兵强而保持畏怯，便会取得胜利；聪明睿智而保持愚拙，便会受益良多；博闻多记而保持肤浅自谦，便会见识更广。这六点，都是谦虚的美德。为君王的，富有四海，不谦虚者先失去天下，再亡其身，桀纣就是这样，你能不谦虚谨慎吗？所以《易》有云：‘有一个方法，大足以守天下，中足以守国家，小足心守其身，这就是谦虚。’‘天道毁满而益谦，地道变满而流谦，鬼神害满而福谦，人道恶满而好谦。’你一定要记住啊！你一定不要因受封鲁国就怠慢轻视了士人啊！”
 
周公还曾经告诫儿子：“有德行的君子即使力大如牛，也不会与牛争谁的力气大；即使奔跑如马，也不会与马争谁跑得快；即使智慧如高士，也不会与高士争谁的智慧高深。”
 
周公讲的“谦德”的种种妙处：谦恭待人会更受人尊崇；节制欲望懂得节俭会令人长久平安；谦卑、不自高自大会令人更尊贵；不骄傲狂妄会令人常胜；谦逊不显耀会令人受益良多；虚心自谦会令人见识更广。今天的人在为人处事、学习修行方面，多学习一下这些美德，都会让人受益颇多。