In ancient China, there were many stories about friendship and principles, among which the most famous one was "Guan Ning's cutting of the mat." This story is concise but profound, telling us how to choose when faced with conflicts between moral principles and friendship.

Guan Ning was a wise man in the Spring and Autumn Period, and his friend Bao Shuya was his closest companion. However, one day, Guan Ning discovered that Bao Shuya had done something immoral, which made him feel deeply saddened. In that era, people usually used mats to entertain guests, and Guan Ning chose to cut the mat as a way to sever his friendship with Bao Shuya, expressing his dissatisfaction with Bao Shuya's behavior.

Although this story is brief, it deeply reveals a truth: when friendship conflicts with moral principles, we should adhere to moral principles. This is because moral principles are the guidelines for our behavior and the criteria for judging right and wrong. If we sacrifice moral principles to maintain friendship, we may fall into the abyss of moral decay.

Of course, this does not mean that we should easily abandon friendship. In most cases, we should try to find ways to maintain both moral principles and friendship. However, when the two cannot coexist, we should hesitate not to choose moral principles.

Overall, the story of Guan Ning's cutting of the mat tells us that when faced with conflicts between friendship and moral principles, we should adhere to moral principles. This is not only a requirement for personal character, but also a demonstration of social responsibility. Only by doing so can we maintain a clear mind and make correct choices in the complex social environment.

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