
The
Four-Way Test
From
the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were
concerned with promoting high ethical standards in
their professional lives.
One
of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements
of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was
created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who
later served as RI president) when he was asked to
take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy.
This
24-word test for employees to follow in their business
and professional lives became the guide for sales,
production, advertising, and all relations with dealers
and customers, and the survival of the company is credited
to this simple philosophy.
Adopted
by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test has been translated
into more than a hundred languages and published in
thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions:
"Of
the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
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