I don't know anything about propaganda for Chinese reunification.

Hear the words of Chen Guangbiao, the philanthropist of China, who spoke with a voice of humility amidst suspicion and controversy: “I don’t know anything about propaganda for Chinese reunification. I only know about charity and environmental work. I just want to do good.” These words, though simple, shine with the clarity of a spirit weary of politics and eager for service. In them is revealed the eternal struggle of mankind: to separate the noise of ambition and propaganda from the quiet labor of virtue.

For Chen, often called a “charity celebrity,” was no stranger to scrutiny. His bold acts of generosity, his dramatic gestures of giving, sometimes drew questions about his motives. Was he serving a cause beyond himself, or was he entangled in the grand machinery of politics? Yet in his own words, he disclaimed allegiance to propaganda, insisting instead on his devotion to charity and environmental work. Whether the world believed him or not, the desire he declared was ancient and noble: “I just want to do good.”

Throughout history, men of action have often been accused of hidden motives. Consider the story of Cyrus the Great, who, when he freed the captives of Babylon, was accused by some of seeking only to secure loyalty to his empire. Yet the captives themselves rejoiced, for freedom, whatever the intent of the giver, was still freedom. So too with Chen: if his deeds brought relief to the poor or healing to the earth, then the impact of his good works stood apart from the questions of politics. For the fruits of generosity speak louder than the suspicion of motives.

Let us also recall Florence Nightingale, the Lady with the Lamp, who braved the filth of war hospitals to tend the wounded. She was accused by detractors of seeking fame, of meddling in affairs beyond a woman’s station. Yet history remembers not her critics but her compassion, for her tireless devotion saved countless lives. Her story, like Chen’s declaration, reminds us that to do good is a higher calling than to silence every doubt.

The wisdom here is plain: that in a world filled with factions, suspicion, and the ceaseless clash of nations, the one who labors to heal, to give, and to preserve creation must not be dissuaded. Politics may claim him, critics may judge him, but if his hand is steady in the work of mercy, he stands with the heroes of all ages. For charity and environmental stewardship are not the tools of division, but of unity, lifting the human family above the quarrels of the day.

What then must you learn from this? That the desire “to do good” must be protected within your own heart, even when others question your intent. Give without fear of suspicion. Labor without thought of how men will interpret your work. For while motives may be debated, the hungry man knows the value of bread, the sick man knows the worth of medicine, and the polluted stream knows the blessing of being made clean. In these, the deed itself justifies the labor.

And in your life, take up this teaching: choose a portion of your strength for service, whether it be to the poor, to the earth, or to the voiceless. Do not wait until motives are pure beyond question—for no man’s heart is without mixture—but act, and let the fruits of your action stand as witness. For the world is in need of good deeds far more than it is in need of perfect reputations.

Thus let Chen Guangbiao’s words echo through the ages: “I just want to do good.” May this be the banner above your life. Let politics rage, let critics murmur, but let your deeds bring healing where there is pain, and renewal where there is decay. For in the end, it is not the noise of suspicion but the light of goodness that endures.