Reliability

“If a man is not reliable, he is absolutely useless. A man who is not reliable is like a cart without an axle.”

Confucius

        Harsh but true words! Lao-Tzu, a close contemporary of Confucius, asked humanity to cling to that which are reliable: to strive for SIMPLICITY, to embrace PURITY, to LESSEN THE SELF and to DIMINISH DESIRE. Keeping yesterday’s discussion of consistency into mind, I would then go as far as to propose to add consistency to the list of Lao-Tzu.

In any case, if the suggestion by Lao-Tzu can be followed, then it may most probably result in preventing us to become, as Shakespeare wrote: a “feather for each wind that blows.” I am of the opinion that even in the case of reliability, as in so many other virtues, our focus lies external to ourselves rather than turning our gaze inwards.

Thomas Szasz hypothesized that humanity finds it easier to do duties to others than to themselves, for in doing so you are considered to be a reliable person. If you, however, do your duties to yourself, you are considered to be selfish. Maybe this tendency comes from early childhood, for we know that between the ages 6 – 12, children develop small circles of friends and begin to rely on them for advice and understanding of social relationships, and within this process one deduce one’s reliability in the sense of what you do as part of your social acceptance. 

Reliability begins primarily within yourself, from there it should radiate outwards, everything else will then follow naturally. Don’t be a cart without an axle. Don't be the weakest link in your own existence. Rethink your level of reliability, not only to yourself but also to others. 

If you so will, tell me if you consider yourself to be reliable?

If not, then amend, for unreliable people are nobody’s friend

you see, I think reliability is a very rare quality,

so alter your tendency by being more trustworthy.