Do you remember back in elementary or middle school, when the class monitor was often the model student? Despite their exemplary behavior, the class often ended up in chaos, with no one really paying attention to their leadership.
Being a model student was no easy task. They had to focus all their energy on maintaining their image, leaving little room for genuine leadership.
Today, watching this historical footage, I was struck by how some of the qualities of a model student were unexpectedly highlighted by former President Chiang Ching-kuo. His speech revealed the determination and charisma required for true leadership.
Chiang Ching-kuo’s Full Speech Transcript
“We believe that the difficulties faced by the industrial and commercial sectors today are the government’s responsibility to resolve. However, there are conditions that must be met. If you borrow money, it must be used for industrial production, not for other purposes. We cannot use public funds to do favors for a few individuals to get rich.”
“Last night, as I was falling asleep, I remembered when I was six years old. My grandmother gave me two bowls and two copper plates. She said, ‘Buy soy sauce with one copper plate and vinegar with the other.’ I tripped on my way out and forgot which copper plate was for vinegar and which was for soy sauce. I went back to ask my grandmother, and she scolded me for being so careless.”
“But vinegar is vinegar, and soy sauce is soy sauce. Some in the industrial and commercial sectors take money meant for soy sauce and buy vinegar, or vice versa. This is not right.”
“So today, I want to say: Making money should be done properly, and spending money should be done appropriately.”
“Otherwise, they squander it, build factories abroad, and here we have public halls, mansions, and swimming pools. Hard times! Hard times! Help me! Help me! If you don’t help me, tomorrow the newspapers will say our economy has collapsed. That’s not the case. I know very clearly who is doing what.”
“For corrupt cases, we will handle them. For cases brought to light, we will handle them. For new cases, we will handle them. Anything illegal, we will handle. But we hope the industrial and commercial sectors understand that our policy is to ensure national stability and price stability for all citizens.”
“This year’s agricultural development aligns with our ideals. What excites us the most is the success of the interest-free loans for farmers. Many doubted this policy, saying it would fail. But today, the facts prove otherwise. The first season’s rice loans have a recovery rate of 97.5%. This spirit of trust among farmers is truly admirable.”