A gentleman does not engage in seeking
food to satisfy his stomach and comfortable house to live in. Instead, he
is diligent in his duties and careful of his words. And he follows those
who have the knowledge of Tao and corrects himself according to it. In so
doing, he can be called a man who is fond of learning.
At the age of fifteen, I made up my mind to learn; at thirty, I was already well established; at forty I began to be immune from confusion; since the age of fifty, I have known the Decrees of Heaven; since the age of sixty, I have felt no surprise at any opinion; and in my seventies, I have been able to do whatever I intend to without breaching the rules.
If one can have new inspirations by reviewing what he learned before, he is qualified to be a teacher.
Confused is one who learns without pondering. Endangered is one who ponders without learning.
So diligent and occupied am I in learning as to forget meals, and so great a rejoicing have I attained in it as to forget all worries and sorrows. In such a mood, I even forget I am getting old.
Among three people I meet on the way, there will be at least one from whom I can learn something. I may follow his goodness or correct my own mistakes by learning from him.
Once I tried to contemplate all day and all night without eating and sleeping to no effect. It is not as good as learning.
Education should be for all, irrespective of their social status.
It is a foolish man who likes benevolence but dislikes learning. If one respects wisdom but dislikes learning, he will be crafty. If one likes sincerity but dislikes learning, he will be easily harmed. If one likes straightforwardness but dislikes learning, He will be rough. If one likes courage but dislikes learning, he will be a hooligan.
An outstanding official should be educated to improve his knowledge while an outstanding scholar should be charged with official duties to practice what he has learned.
I examine myself three times daily: Have I done something unfaithful to
others? Have I done something insincere to my friends? Have I reviewed what
I learned?
In accordance with present scholars, [filial piety] implies nothing but that one should provide adequately for the support of his parents. However, even dogs and horses can provide for the supports of their parents. If one does not pay reverence to his parents, is there any difference between him and an animal?
I would never regret dying in the evening if only I could learn about Tao in that morning.
A great man has a good knowledge of righteousness whereas a small man has that of profit- making.
Everyone desires wealth and higher rank. Nevertheless, one should not accept them if his aim is not achieved in a rightway. Everyone dislikes poverty and lower rank. Nevertheless, one should not try to get rid of them if his aim is not achieved in a right way.
In olden times, people did not talk much for fear that their deeds could not meet their words.
A gentleman would rather be quick in action than talk a lot.
The wise are delighted by water, the benevolent by mountains; the wise appreciate movement, the benevolent quietude; the wise lead a happy life, the benevolent are long-lived.
I would still feel happy even if I had to eat coarse food, drink nothing but water, and take my arms as a pillow when asleep. Wealth and higher rank, if gained without righteousness, mean no more than a flying cloud to me.
Is benevolence far from us on earth? Only if I wanted it, would it come to my side.
A superior man is broad-minded whereas small-minded man is always resentful.
Only in freezing winter, can we realize that pines and cypresses are cold-resistant.
It is never the case that a man of lofty ideals and benevolence would do things illicit to preserve his life, and there are times when he would sacrifice his life for the completion of benevolence.
It is man who can make Tao great, and not Tao that makes man great.
A real mistake is committed when one refuses to correct his mistakes. -
Cunning speech destroys virtues, and lack of tolerance destroys significant plans.
There are three admonitions for a gentleman: When young and unable to control the sap of youth, the admonition for him is not to indulge in lust; when grown up to the prime of life and at his most robust, his admonition is not to get into fights; when aged and declining in energy, his admonition is not to be too greedy.
At the sight of something good, one should immediately learn it as if he would otherwise miss the chance forever. At the sight of something bad, one should immediately draw back as if he had put his hands into boiling water.
One who is fond of hearsay gives up his virtues.
Like the eclipses of the sun and the moon, the mistakes of a superior man are in clear sight of the multitude. When he corrects them, however, the people will hold him in higher reverence.
A superior man is generous but not wasteful; he is diligent without complaint; he has desires but is not greedy; he is great but not arrogant thereby; he is awesome but not fierce.
Superior men keep harmonious relations with each other but they never form cliques. On the contrary, inferior men tend to form cliques but fail to keep harmonious relations with each other.
I do not know what use a man can be put to, whose words are untruthful. How can a wagon be made to go if it has no yoke or a carriage, or if it has no harness?
If a gentleman always maintains reverence without ignorance behaves with courtesy to others, and observes the rules of ritual, then all within the Four Oceans are his brothers.
One must stand by one's words and must not stop one's action until success is achieved.
Superior men appreciate harmony instead of sameness whereas inferior men appreciate sameness instead of harmony.
How intolerable are those who tend to spend a whole day together without ever once mentioning things righteous, but are fond of performing petty acts of cunning.
A gentleman takes righteousness as-his character, the rites as a guide for his actions, honesty as the way to set out his plan, and sincerity as the means by which his plan is realized.
A gentleman is distressed by his own lack of capacity. He is never distressed at the failure of others to recognize his merits.
A gentleman is unyielding but not quarrelsome; he is agreeable but not cliquey.
Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you.
When it comes to benevolence, one need not avoid competing with one's teacher.
There are three sorts of friends that are helpful, and three sorts that are harmful. Friendship with the upright, with the trustworthy, and with the learned is helpful. Friendship with the obsequious, with the outwardly kind but inwardly wicked, and with those of cunning words is harmful.