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:
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Is it the TRUTH?
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Is it FAIR to all concerned?
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Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
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Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
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