Of course, people live in society, which is very complicated and sometimes even dangerous. In order to take refuge, a person will inevitably tell some lies; In order to survive, one may also try to trick others. You must never do anything to kill people at this time. This is a bottom line for being a man under extraordinary circumstances. If you cross this line, a person is not worthy to be called a person.
Looking back at history, a common situation in our society is that cruelty is carried out under some very high-sounding flags and slogans. For example, depriving individuals of their legitimate property in the name of "public ownership" and "revolution"; Beating and insulting people under the pretext of "bad guys" and "criminals", and even brutally executing people without any legal trial and arrest procedures. It seems that once a person becomes a "bad guy", "counter-revolutionary" and "criminal", he no longer has any human rights and can be abused and treated by others. We often hear and see all kinds of cruel and dehumanizing behaviors in "Brother Wen" today, as well as the handling of "bad guys", "criminals" and even just criminal suspects, all of which are concrete manifestations of this thought. Under this tradition, we should first establish a basic concept among all the people: even a "bad guy" has some of the most basic rights he enjoys as a human being, and we should "prosecute" his evil deeds and crimes in accordance with legal procedures and clear regulations, instead of casually implementing risky and rude "rule of man" like a group of hooligans. This is another line, but it is a line that needs to be observed by both the government and the people. After crossing this line, even if there is no "country is not a country", this country will be a lawless "country" where the law of the jungle tramples on each other and everyone fears for himself. The history of "Brother Wen" fully proves this point.
With further thinking on this issue, I think of a passage that Lu Xun said in one of his articles, to the effect that one should do things that are beneficial to others and self-interest as much as possible; If you can't do it, try to do something self-interested but harmless; If not, do something that harms others and does not benefit others; He is firmly opposed to only doing things that harm others and do not benefit himself. Lu Xun has always been regarded as the standard-bearer of spiritual culture in our society, and many of his thoughts are often considered to be very radical and rebellious. However, the bottom line of his requirements for new-style youth and his "outline for dealing with people" for newcomers living in traditional society is so intriguing.
As for how to keep the bottom line of being a man, it seems that I have to hand in a blank sheet of paper. Life is full of dangers, and I'm not sure if I can keep this line. I only have a rough guess: people who grow up eating "human milk" may be able to keep the bottom line of being a man; People who grow up eating "wolf milk" may have to go through a life-and-death struggle to keep this line. On the other hand, in a society where human rights are fully guaranteed, it is easier for a person to keep this line; In a society that tramples on human rights and treats people as human beings, it seems that only those who value dignity more than life can keep this line.