Zeng Guofan’s 10 family traditions and family mottos are as follows:

1. A man must be stubborn to be self-reliant.

2. Be dignified and do not speak rashly.

3. What makes a gentleman inferior to others is that he has a wise eye and knows people well.

4. In an official's family, it is easy to change from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to return from luxury to frugality.

5. Young people should be "ambitious, knowledgeable and persistent" when studying.

6. Only by using thunderbolt means can you first show the heart of a Bodhisattva.

7. Be quiet first, then think about it, and then do it when you are 50 or 60% sure.

8. There are three things that scholars should not fight: do not fight for fame with gentlemen, do not fight for profit with villains, and do not fight for cleverness with heaven and earth.

9. When traveling independently, you should not follow the popular customs, but you must not tolerate resentment. There is no need to avoid minor suspicions in matters of high righteousness, but we must not ignore them if they are tiring.

10. I often see those who praise themselves, only to be praised and ridiculed; I often see those who flatter others, only to be pleased, only to be looked down upon. When a gentleman lives in the world, he should do nothing to discuss, do not expect others to be praised, do nothing to blame, and do not expect others to please him.

Character evaluation:

Zeng Guofan is known as one of the "Four Famous Officials of the Late Qing and Zhongxing Dynasties" and is highly praised by future generations. He was diligent, thrifty and honest throughout his life and was not proud of being an official. He cultivated himself and disciplined himself, regarded virtue as an official, and achieved great success in the officialdom. His official career has always been prosperous.

The education of his children has always been praised and learned by future generations. In his lifetime, none of his twelve children were playboys.