Fan Zhongyan was "concerned about the emperor when being in a remote place." When he was asked to return home, he was deeply concerned about state affairs and wrote a 10,000-word letter to the imperial court, “About Administration." In the letter, he suggested many approaches to improve governance of the area, such as "selecting good governors, eradicating laziness and redundancy, being cautious about elections, focusing on education, selecting the generals properly, keeping the honest officials who dare to speak out, and criticizing the sinister and sycophant officers."

Fan Zhongyan was "concern-ed about the people who were in high positions at court." When he was the Deputy Imperial Censor, there was a great drought followed by a locust plague in the area east of the capital city and in the Jianghuai region. Fan asked Emperor Song Renzong (1010 – 1063 AD, reigning from 1022 – 1063) to send officials to bring aid to the area. However, the emperor did not pay much attention. Fan asked Emperor Renzong, "What would you do if there was no food in your palace for even half a day?" Emperor Renzong felt ashamed and sent Fan to manage the relief work. Wherever he went in the disaster area, Fan opened the granary reserves to feed the stricken people. He also requested to waive or reduce taxes for those impacted. He brought back to the capital city the wild grass that people had been eating to stave off hunger. Fan asked the emperor to show it to all the officials and royals in the palace to remember the hardships that the people endured and henceforward be less extravagant and wasteful.

Fan focused on the welfare of his country whether he held a top position or was in a demoted role. When he was prime minister, he admonished the emperor, appointed officials based on their merits, punished corrupt officials, and did things for the public good. When he was demoted to local areas as a minor official, he still managed to benefit the people during his term. For example, he was once the supervisor of the salt storehouse in Hailing County, Taizhou City. He saw that the dam had not been maintained for many years and was in very bad shape. The seawater had flooded a great deal of the farmland, and thousands of people had to abandon their homes. He wrote to the emperor immediately, asking for the dam to be repaired. His request was approved. Fan was then appointed Governor of Xinghua County to oversee the dam repair. Fan led the building of a dam along the east coast to hold back the seawater, protect people's property, and allow people to return to their homes and land. In recognition of Governor Fan's achievements, the people called the sea dam "Mr. Fan's Dam." Many of the disaster victims in Xinghua County even changed their surnames to Fan.

Fan Zhongyan lived by the principle of "no deception."When  Jia An (1022 – 1065 AD), who scored the highest in the recent national-level imperial civil service examinations, visited Fan for advice on self-improvement and governing the nation, Fan told him, "For a person to be free from worry and pretension, the words 'no deception' can apply to one’s actions throughout life." Jia An later became the imperial minister. He was very fair and just and dared to speak out. "No deception" means being open, upright, and honorable. "No deception" is to not deceive the emperor, the public, or one's own conscience. Fan Zhongyan strictly followed the "no deception" principle his entire life. He applied it to his official duties, personal business, and his family.

Fan was very kind and helpful to others. He recognized and promoted many talented people that had wisdom and virtue. Whenever he became a local official, he governed benevolently and kept people at peace. The local culture and moral standards were greatly influenced by his actions. People started paying attention to their reputation and morality and felt that it was shameful to pursue money or personal interests. Everyone was conscious about decency and shame. No one dared to do bad things.

Thinking about the welfare of the country and people, Fan Zhongyan's principle of "Be concerned before the world starts worrying, be satisfied only after the world is content," has influenced millions of people. This principle has been demonstrated by many people of purpose, virtue and honor throughout history.

先天下之忧而忧
的境界与胸怀 (下)

处江湖之远则忧其君。范仲淹离任在家时，深为国事而忧虑，向朝廷上了万言奏章《上执政书》，提出了“择郡守，举县令，斥游惰，去冗僭，慎选举，敦教育，举将才，保直臣，斥佞臣”等措施建议。居庙堂之高则忧其民。他在朝廷任右司谏时，一次，京东和江淮一带大旱，又闹蝗灾，范仲淹立即奏请仁宗皇帝派人前去救灾，仁宗不予重视，他问仁宗说：“如果宫廷之中半日停食，陛下该当如何？”仁宗感到惭愧，就派范仲淹前去赈灾。范仲淹所到之处开仓赈济，并奏请减免赋税，还特意将灾民充饥的乌味草带回京城，请仁宗传示六宫贵戚、朝廷上下，以劝诫他们勿忘百姓之疾苦，杜绝奢侈之风。

进亦忧，退亦忧。范仲淹任宰相时，规谏君主，任人唯贤，惩治贪官，一心为民。每次被贬为地方官时，都做到为官一任，造福一方。例如他到泰州海陵做盐仓监官，看到当地海堤因多年失修而坍圮不堪，海水淹没了农田，成千上万灾民流离失所。他立即上书朝廷治堰，朝廷准奏，调他任兴化县令负责治堰。范仲淹率众在东海岸边成功修筑了捍海堰，使人民生命财产得以保障，使受灾流亡的民户重返家园。人们感激范县令的功绩，都把海堰叫做“范公堤”，兴化县不少灾民，竟跟著他姓了范。

奉行“不欺”精神。邓州新科状元贾黯进谒范仲淹，请教治世立身之道。范仲淹对他说：“君不忧不显，惟不欺二字，可终身行之。”贾黯后来官至御史中丞，一生为官清正廉洁，遇事敢言。不欺，即刚直不阿、光明磊落；不欺，即不欺君心、不欺民心、不欺自己的良心。这“不欺”二字是范仲淹一生为官、做人、处事、治家恪守的信条。他待人宽厚，乐于助人，当时的很多贤士都是在他的指导和荐拔下成长起来的。在地方上他每到一地，保土安民，实行仁政，当地风俗因受其影响感化也为之一变，人们莫不崇尚名节，而羞于谈论钱财利害；人人都有廉耻的观念，知道有所警惕，不敢为非作歹了。

忧国忧民、念为苍生，“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐”的思想品格影响了千千万万人，人们从中华民族历代的志士仁人和正人君子那里都可以领悟的到。