Examples are better than percept and credibility begins at home with the children.

Zeng Shen was a disciple of Confucius. One day Zeng Shen's son was crying because his mother refused to let him go shopping with her.

"Be a good boy, and stay at home," said the mother. "When mother comes back, we are going to kill a pig and cook a nice meal for you. I know you like pork."

The boy nodded and stayed home.

When she got back, she saw that Zeng Shen was getting ready to kill a pig in the family's pigsty. She hastened to stop him.

"I was only joking. You don't need to kill the pig today."

"This is no joking matter." Zeng Shen said. "Make sure you never lie to a child. A child does not know what is right and what is wrong. He imitates his parents. Now if you deceive him, he will think that it is right to deceive. And he will not believe you any more. This is not the way to teach a child."

Thus Zeng Shen killed the pig and cooked some pork for the boy.