From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians have been committed to promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor, who later served as President of Rotary International. Taylor developed this test when he was asked to take charge of a company facing bankruptcy.

This 24-word test serves as a guide for employees in their business and professional lives, influencing sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers. The survival of the company is credited to this simple yet powerful philosophy. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of formats. It poses the following four questions:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?