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?"
