Doing one's duty to the teacher has three meanings.
1, it is important to maintain a harmonious relationship between teachers and students, but in Confucius' view, it is obviously more important to maintain benevolence and righteousness. No matter between teachers and students, between superiors and subordinates, or between relatives and friends, all these human relationships can not be an obstacle to carrying forward benevolence and morality and safeguarding truth and justice. Mencius said: "The son of heaven is heartless and does not protect the four seas; The princes are heartless and do not protect the country; Doctor Qing is ruthless and does not protect the ancestral temple; Shu Ren is heartless and doesn't protect his four bodies. "Benevolence is related to the survival and development of human beings, and it should be the bottom line that is higher than human feelings and that people will always abide by.
2. At the same time, "Benevolent people don't give in to teachers" has another meaning: "Benevolent people are responsible for themselves" and can't be immune to it. It is also "unkind" and "unjust" to know that what others have done violates benevolence, righteousness and morality and not remind or stop it. Righteousness first, don't do anything unfair. You dare not fight for apprentices, friends and children, and watch others fall into an unkind and unfair situation step by step. Is this what a gentleman should do?
3. In addition, both Zhu's old explanation of "taking benevolence as one's duty" and "going forward bravely" and Mr. Qian Mu's new explanation of "doing what one should do openly, taking the lead and never giving up" reveal the third meaning of "doing one's duty": taking the initiative to undertake the responsibility of promoting benevolence, righteousness and morality. As Mr. Qian Mu said: "If you do good deeds, everyone will take responsibility and everyone will give in. Who will take this responsibility?" When it comes to benevolence and righteousness, we should take the lead, have a sense of responsibility, do not be humble, and bravely be a leader so that benevolence and righteousness can be carried forward and applied.