Famous aphorisms about filial piety are as follows:
1. If your parents like something, do it with your own strength; if your parents hate it, do it with caution. This means: Children should try their best to do what their parents like. They prepare; things that their parents hate must be carefully removed for them.
2. Which thing is bigger? It is the greatest thing to do things closely; to protect oneself, which one is greater? It is great to keep one's body, and I have heard of those who can serve their relatives without losing their bodies. I have not heard of those who can serve their relatives without losing their bodies. Who is not doing something? Serving relatives is the foundation of everything; who doesn't keep it? Keeping oneself is the foundation of keeping oneself.
3. To know the kindness of relatives, it depends on your son; if you want your son to be obedient, you must first be filial to your parents.
The meaning and theme of the expression: If you want to know how much kindness your parents have, you have to raise your children to know; to ask your children to be filial to you, you must first set an example and be filial to your parents. Being filial to parents is a kind of inheritance.
4. Sheep have the kindness of kneeling down to breastfeed, and crows have the kindness of feeding back.
Meaning and theme of expression: Little lambs know the kindness of kneeling down to express their gratitude for breast milk, and little crows also know the kindness of feeding food to their mothers. This sentence tells us to know how to be grateful to our parents for their upbringing.
5. If your parents are around, you will have to travel well if you don’t travel far away.
Expression of meaning and theme: When your parents are still alive, you should not travel far away. If you have to travel far away, you must tell your parents where you are. This sentence tells us that when our parents are still alive, it is best to spend more time with them. Companionship is the best form of filial piety.
6. Don’t be slow to answer the call, be sincere and cheerful.
Meaning: When parents call you, you should answer immediately, do not neglect, be sincere and with a smile on your face. From "Encouragement to Repay Parents' Favors".
7. Good food should be used by parents first, and good clothes should be worn by parents first.
It means: Give your parents good food first, and give your parents good clothes first. From "Encouragement to Repay Parents' Favors".
8. A poor family knows a filial son, and a country in chaos knows a loyal minister.
It means: Only when the family is poor can a true filial son be discovered, and only when the country is in danger can a true loyal minister be identified. From "Collection of Famous Sages".
9. Filial piety is the beginning of virtue, brotherhood is the sequence of virtue, trust is the thickest virtue, and loyalty is the righteousness of virtue. He is also a person who has participated in the four virtues of Zhongfu.
It means: Honoring your parents is the beginning of morality, respecting your brother is the order of morality, trust is the depth of morality, and loyalty is the direction of morality. Zeng Shen was a person with exactly these four morals. ’ comes from "Family Language: Disciples' Practice".