"没有公德，社区就会灭亡；没有个人道德，他们的生存毫无价值。"

The core idea here is pretty straightforward: societies need both a shared sense of right and wrong and personal integrity to truly thrive. If a community lacks a collective ethical compass, it will fall apart. But even if a society holds together, if the individuals in it don’t act with personal morality, what’s the point? It’s like having a beautiful ship that doesn’t leak but is full of pirates—eventually, it’s still doomed.

Historically, this sentiment has been echoed throughout the ages. Think about ancient Greece and Rome. When their civic values—like democracy in Athens or the rule of law in Rome—started to crumble, so did their societies. You could also look at this quote through a modern lens. Consider the 20th century and the rise and fall of various regimes that lacked moral grounding, be it fascist nations or corrupt governments. They might have held power, but they ultimately collapsed or left a legacy of suffering.

Let’s bring this concept to life with a real-life example: the American Civil Rights Movement. Imagine it’s the 1960s. The US has laws, a Constitution, and a functioning government—civic structures are intact. But without the personal morality of individuals standing up against racism and inequality, like Martin Luther King Jr. and countless others, what good are those structures? It was their personal courage and moral integrity that gave value to the society’s survival, pushing it towards true justice and equality. Civic morality (laws and structures) needed the reinforcement of personal morality (individual actions of integrity) to create meaningful change.

So, how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start small. Think about your community—maybe your neighborhood or workplace. Are there rules or expectations that people follow just because they’re there? Now, ask yourself, are you acting with personal integrity in this context? Are you the one who speaks up when something feels wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable? It’s about living your values consistently, whether anyone’s watching or not.

Picture this scenario: you’re at work, and there’s a culture of cutting corners. It’s not outright illegal, but it’s not fully honest either. Most people go along with it because, hey, it’s the norm. Now, think about how your personal actions fit into this. If you choose to act with integrity—maybe by refusing to cut corners or by advocating for more transparent practices—you’re contributing to that essential personal morality. You might not change the entire company overnight, but you’re adding value to the workplace’s survival. And, you might inspire others to do the same.

Imagine you’re at a community meeting—maybe it’s about a local park that’s fallen into disrepair. The group might have the rules and the funds to fix it (civic morality), but without people genuinely caring and putting in the effort (personal morality), the park stays the same. Your decision to volunteer your time, to pick up trash or plant flowers, brings that shared goal to life. It’s your personal commitment that breathes value into the community’s survival.

So next time you think about the health of a community, remember it’s a two-way street. Both the collective rules we live by and the personal integrity we bring to the table matter. Without both, we’re either lost or living in a hollow shell of what could be. Let’s aim for a society where both shine brightly.