▶ Topic :
Is it wise to be suspicious of the motives or honesty of other people, even those who appear to be trustworthy?
Successful deceivers are the people who can make themselves look trustworthy to others. Pretending to have honest motives and innocent purpose, they make fool of people and feel betrayed. Therefore, although not all people have surreptitious or malignant purposes behind their actions, it is still never too much to be cautious when meeting people.
The Qing dynasty, one of the most prosperous nations in 19th century, declined, because the emperor, Kangqi, fell under the scheme of the Jang dynasty, not suspicious of the Jang’s favor. In Chinese history, Kagnqi had been considered one fo the most credulous and naïve emperors. Even though his tendency not to doubt others’ motives encouraged the people to admire and honor the emperor more than any preceding emperors, and allowed the society to be stabilized, his guilibility sometimes put the dynasty in danger. In the late 19th, the Jang dynasty sent 3 princesses who were regarded the most beautiful, expressing its hope to have more intimate relationship with the Qing dynasty. Impressed by the Jang’s sign of respect and intimacy and believing in its sincerity, kangqi himself married all three princesses from the Jang dynasty and lived with them. However, after 10 years since their marriage, it was turned out that the Jang dynasty had other rebellious purposes to have its princesses be wife of Kangqi: to work as spies and to reveal the Qing’s military documents. Finally when the Jang received enough information from the spies, it attacked the Qing dynasty and successfully overthrew the emperor and conquered it. If Kangqi had wisely questioned the motives of the Jang’s tribute, the Qing dynasty would have lasted for longer time. --> nobody could expect...
The importance of being discreet when meeting others is illustrated also in many literatures. One of them is The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Dimmesdale, an eminent priest in a protestant society, suffers not only from his compunction but also from the deceiver, Chilingworth. Cheated by her wife, Hester, Chillingworth plans to pay back his agony to Hester’s paramour, Dimmesdale. Since Chillingworth pretended to be a believable doctor, giving medicine.., Dimmesdale does not suspect Chilingworth’s real identity as the person who loathes Dimmesdale. Therefore, Dimmesdale is significantly affected by Chilingworth, as he keeps roaming around Dimmesdale making him feel guilty from unaccountable reason. Given the fact that he has already suffered from conscience, Chillingworth’s avenge on Dimmesdale is too harsh. Dimmesdale could have avoided such extra pain, if he had doubted Chiligworth’s hidden motivation.
Indeed, it has been proven from both history and literature that we should be wary of others' secret intents. By not hastily putting belief in ohters, we can prevent unnecessary misfortune in our lives.
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