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Confucius
1
the master 〃is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance andapplication？
〃is it not delightful to have friends ing from distant quarters？
〃is he not a man of plete virtue； who feels no disposure though menmay take no note of him？〃
the philosopher yu said； 〃they are few who； being filial and fraternal； arefond of offending against their superiors。 there have been none； who； not likingto offend against their superiors； have been fond of stirring up confusion。
〃the superior man bends his attention to what is radical。 that beingestablished； all practical courses naturally grow up。 filial piety and fraternalsubmission；…are they not the root of all benevolent actions？〃
the master said； 〃fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldomassociated with true virtue。〃
the philosopher tsang said； 〃i daily examine myself on three points：…whether；in transacting business for others； i may have been not faithful；…whether； inintercourse with friends； i may have been not sincere；…whether i may have notmastered and practiced the instructions of my teacher。〃
the master said； 〃to rule a country of a thousand chariots； there must bereverent attention to business； and sincerity； economy in expenditure； and lovefor men； and the employment of the people at the proper seasons。〃
the master said； 〃a youth； when at home； should be filial； and； abroad；respectful to his elders。 he should be earnest and truthful。 he should overflowin love to all； and cultivate the friendship of the good。 when he has time andopportunity； after the performance of these things； he should employ them inpolite studies。〃
tsze…hsia said； 〃if a man withdraws his mind from the love of beauty； andapplies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous； if； in serving his parents；he can exert his utmost strength； if； in serving his prince； he can devote hislife； if； in his intercourse with his friends； his words are sincere：…althoughmen say that he has not learned； i will certainly say that he has。
the master said； 〃if the scholar be not grave； he will not call forth anyveneration； and his learning will not be solid。
〃hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles。
〃have no friends not equal to yourself。
〃when you have faults； do not fear to abandon them。〃
the philosopher tsang said； 〃let there be a careful attention to perform thefuneral rites to parents； and let them be followed when long gone with theceremonies of sacrifice；…then the virtue of the people will resume its properexcellence。〃
tsze…ch'in asked tsze…kung saying； 〃when our master es to any country； hedoes not fail to learn all about its government。 does he ask his information？ oris it given to him？〃
tsze…kung said； 〃our master is benign； upright； courteous； temperate； andplaisant and thus he gets his information。 the master's mode of askinginformation；…is it not different from that of other men？〃
the master said； 〃while a man's father is alive； look at the bent of hiswill； when his father is dead； look at his conduct。 if for three years he doesnot alter from the way of his father； he may be called filial。〃
the philosopher yu said； 〃in practicing the rules of propriety； a naturalease is to be prized。 in the ways prescribed by the ancient kings； this is theexcellent quality； and in things small and great we follow them。
〃yet it is not to be observed in all cases。 if one； knowing how such easeshould be prized； manifests it； without regulating it by the rules of propriety；this likewise is not to be done。〃
the philosopher yu said； 〃when agreements are made according to what isright； what is spoken can be made good。 when respect is shown according to whatis proper； one keeps far from shame and disgrace。 when the parties upon whom aman leans are proper persons to be intimate with； he can make them his guidesand masters。〃
the master said； 〃he who aims to be a man of plete virtue in his fooddoes not seek to gratify his appetite； nor in his dwelling place does he seekthe appliances of ease； he is earnest in what he is doing； and careful in hisspeech； he frequents the pany of men of principle that he may be rectified：…such a person may be said indeed to love to learn。〃
tsze…kung said； 〃what do you pronounce concerning the poor man who yet doesnot flatter； and the rich man who is not proud？〃 the master replied； 〃they willdo； but they are not equal to him； who； though poor； is yet cheerful； and to him；who； though rich； loves the rules of propriety。〃
tsze…kung replied； 〃it is said in the book of poetry； 'as you cut and thenfile； as you carve and then polish。'…the meaning is the same； i apprehend； asthat which you have just expressed。〃
the master said； 〃with one like ts'ze； i can begin to talk about the odes。 itold him one point； and he knew its proper sequence。〃
the master said； 〃i will not be afflicted at men's not knowing me； i will beafflicted that i do not know men。〃
2
the master said； 〃he who exercises government by means of his virtue may bepared to the north polar star； which keeps its place and all the stars turntowards it。〃
the master said； 〃in the book of poetry are three hundred pieces； but thedesign of them all may be embraced in one sentence 'having no depravedthoughts。'〃
the master said； 〃if the people be led by laws； and uniformity sought to begiven them by punishments； they will try to avoid the punishment； but have nosense of shame。
〃if they be led by virtue； and uniformity sought to be given them by therules of propriety； they will have the sense of shame； and moreover will beegood。〃
the master said； 〃at fifteen； i had my mind bent on learning。
〃at thirty； i stood firm。
〃at forty； i had no doubts。
〃at fifty； i knew the decrees of heaven。
〃at sixty； my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth。
〃at seventy； i could follow what my heart desired； without transgressingwhat was right。〃
mang i asked what filial piety was。 the master said； 〃it is not beingdisobedient。〃
soon after； as fan ch'ih was driving him； the master told him； saying；〃mang…sun asked me what filial piety was； and i answered him；…'not beingdisobedient。'〃
fan ch'ih said； 〃what did you mean？〃 the master replied； 〃that parents； whenalive； be served according to propriety； that； when dead； they should be buriedaccording to propriety； and that they should be sacrificed to according topropriety。〃
mang wu asked what filial piety was。 the master said； 〃parents are anxiouslest their children should be sick。〃
tsze…yu asked what filial piety was。 the master said； 〃the filial pietynowadays means the support of one's parents。 but dogs and horses likewise areable to do something in the way of support；…without reverence； what is there todistinguish the one support given from the other？〃
tsze…hsia asked what filial piety was。 the master said； 〃the difficulty iswith the countenance。 if； when their elders have any troublesome affairs； theyoung take the toil of them； and if； when the young have wine and food； they setthem before their elders； is this to be considered filial piety？〃
the master said； 〃i have talked with hui for a whole day； and he has notmade any objection to anything i said；…as if he were stupid。 he has retired； andi have examined his conduct when away from me； and found him able to illustratemy teachings。 hui！…he is not stupid。〃
the master said； 〃see what a man does。
〃mark his motives。
〃examine in what things he rests。
〃how can a man conceal his character？ how can a man conceal his character？〃
the master said； 〃if a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge； so ascontinually to be acquiring new； he may be a teacher of others。〃
the master said； 〃the acplished scholar is not a utensil。〃
tsze…kung asked what constituted the superior man。 the master said； 〃he actsbefore he speaks； and afterwards speaks according to his actions。〃
the master said； 〃the superior man is catholic and not partisan。 the meanman is partisan and not catholic。〃
the master said； 〃learning without thought is labor lost； thought withoutlearning is perilous。〃
the master said； 〃the study of st