Diwu Lun was an official renowned for his honesty from the early Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 220 AD). He lived in what is Shaanxi Province today. He was honest, unpretentious, and generous. No matter where he worked, he was always considerate of the people.
 
Since he was a child, Diwu was eager to help anyone who had difficulties. During the insurgency led by Wang Mang (46 BC – 23 AD), many bandits appeared, and Diwu's fellow villagers relied on him. They elected him as a local leader to defend against the bandits. Diwu led the people to build forts to protect themselves. Dozens of groups of the rebellion troops came, but none conquered their forts. After the rebellion was suppressed, Diwu was awarded by the local government official. He was given the post to lead the local prosecutor's office and taxation bureau. He felt the heavy responsibilities, and repeatedly told those under him, "In our positions, everything we say or do affects the lives of the people. We must not harm the people or become greedy." When his supervisor encouraged Diwu to increase the taxes, he rejected decidedly and said, "The common people's lives are already very difficult. How can I add to their burden?"
 
When Diwu was the Chief Magistrate of Kuaiji County, although he was in a high position, he was still very frugal. He wore cotton clothes and ate unpolished rice. He even cut hay himself for the horses. His wife personally cooked food. Whenever Diwu was paid, he only took what his family needed for food and clothes, and donated the rest to the poor. He believed his family should not gather assets and therefore did not buy real estate or expensive things. Once a friend said, "Everyone has his own fate. You are just one person. How many people can you relief? How can you possibly help everyone?" Diwu replied, "This is my will and the intent is what counts." His friend said, "You are very frugal and live a simple, honest life. However, if you don't have any real estate and assets, what are you leaving to your heirs?" Diwu smiled and said, "You are being too generous. I am accumulating virtue to pass onto my heirs."
 
When he was appointed Chief Magistrate of the Shu Region, most officials in the regional government cared a lot about money and little about the people. Therefore he fired all corrupt officials and appointed those who had integrity. Because of his actions, no one in his government accepted bribes any longer. He also recommended many people with integrity to the central government, some of whom later became very high officials. All of them remained honest and non-corrupt.
 
Diwu was an upright person who followed the rules. He did not try to please those in power. At that time, relatives of the royal family gained a lot of power and began to dominate the royal court. No one in the central government dared say anything. When Diwu began working in the central government, he wrote many letters to the Emperor to advise against this situation. He also wrote that those with no virtue or ability should not become officials. Many officials became irritated with him. One of his colleagues said to him, "You respect kindness and justice, which is the virtue that gentlemen have. However, we are government officials, and we need to know how the system works. If you don't learn to be flexible, you will regret it in the future." Diwu said, "Kindness and virtue are what I live for. They are paramount. How can I lose these two in order to keep a government post? You mean well, but you don't understand my aspirations."
 
Diwu won the appreciation and trust of Emperor Zhang (56 – 88 AD) of the Han Dynasty, and maintained his very high position in the central government. He encouraged education and did many things to benefit the people. This earned him widespread respect from the people. He told others around him, "Kindness and virtue cannot be gained through fighting. These two are the fundamentals of being human, and they are the foundation for everything. I regret that I didn't do enough kind deeds in this lifetime, yet I have received so much good fortune in return, beyond my imagination!"
 
All of us should learn to always keep an unshakeable kindness, do good deeds, be considerate of others, and be truly responsible for ourselves.
 
扶危济困　心地善良
 
第五伦，复姓第五，名伦，陕西人，东汉初著名清官。他质朴正直，乐德好施，体恤百姓。无论在哪儿做官，都以为民解忧为己任。
 
第五伦年少时就耿介而重义，平时邻里乡亲谁有了困难，他总是热心帮助。王莽乱世，盗贼四起，百姓们都把第五伦当作依靠，推举他为首领抵抗盗贼。第五伦带领百姓们筑堡自卫，铜马、赤眉等几十支军队都没有攻下第五伦的营垒。第五伦得到地方官褒赏，做了掌管诉讼和赋税的官吏，他深感责任重大，多次对下属们说：“我们掌此职权，一言一行都关系民生疾苦，绝不可干害民贪占之事。”当上级官员授意第五伦多收些钱财时，第五伦一口回绝，他义正辞严的说：“哀民生之多艰，再行加收于心何忍？！”
 
第五伦担任会稽太守时，虽身居高位却依然节俭如故。穿布衣，吃糙米，自己动手割草喂马，妻子亲自下厨房烧火做饭。每领到俸禄，除留下自己一家食用之需，全部赠送给穷苦百姓，并以清贫为家训，不置家产。他的朋友劝他说：“人各有命，以你一人之力，能救济多少？又怎么能救济每一个人呢？”第五伦回答说：“只是不辜负这一片心而已！”他的朋友说：“你自己清廉自守、不贪不占已属不易，又何苦不置家产，把甚么留给后人呢？”第五伦笑著说：“你过奖了，我是在给后人攒德呢！”
 
在蜀郡太守职位上，第五伦鉴于郡府中的属吏多以资财入仕，他们追求奢华，不关心百姓。于是，他毅然将这样官吏全部裁汰精简，而改选有品德有节操的人担任，从此争相贿赂之风便被禁绝了。他还向朝廷举荐了很多人品高尚的人，其中不少人后来都官至九卿，并且都清正廉洁，没有一人因贪污受贿犯罪。
 
第五伦一身正气，凡事秉公而行，从不曲意逢迎。当时朝廷外戚专权跋扈，大臣们无人敢谏。第五伦升任司空后，便屡屡上书抨击时弊，要求防止外戚骄奢擅权，并提出没有德行才能的人坚决不能任命官职。因此得罪了不少有权势的人。同僚中有人劝他说：“你重仁重义，这是君子的美德。不过既在朝中为官，就该深谙官场之道。你不懂的变通，将来会后悔的。”第五伦回答：“仁德乃我毕生所求，此为大也，怎能为了求一官职而一旦尽失。你觉的意为我好，却不知我的志向啊！”
 
第五伦得到汉章帝的赏识和信任，后来一直位居三公。他推行教化，做了许多惠民利民的好事，成为百姓景仰的人。他对别人说：“仁德不是攫取所能得到的，有了仁德才是成人做事之本。我自愧一生所做的善事太少了，而得到的福报却是无法想像啊！”任何时候都能够保持善念，坚定不移的行善，为他人著想，为自己真正的负责，这也是我们每个人应该记取的。