About Rotary - Four Way Test

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The 4-Way Test

Of the things we think, say or do:

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 4-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 code of ethics 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 4-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways.

The Four-Way Test is the soul of the Rotary ethic and the source of our distinctive lifestyle in business & civic endeavors. This code of conduct is Rotary’s most conspicuous contribution to the moral climate of the modern world.

This self-examining series of questions regarding truth, fairness, goodwill & helpfulness for Rotarians has had universal appeal.

·        Truth comes first because all of life must be based on reality rather than deception.

·        Fairness comes next, before Friendship, to protect against possible favoritism shown to friends and associates, e.g. appointment to positions without regard for their qualifications.

·        Goodwill is placed third, before seeking a Beneficial result, for we Rotarians are to serve compassionately without a desire to control.

In a profound sense, Truth & Fairness are foundational for fruitful relationships

(“IS it…?”), then they are characterized by Goodwill and Beneficial results

(“WILL it…?).

Some information on this page came from:

The The 4-Way Test page on the Rotary International web site.