Confucian Analects, Confucius, 500 B.C., Part 4
The Master said, "It is virtuous
manners which constitute the excellence
of a neighborhood. If a man in selecting
a residence do not fix on one where such
prevail, how can he be wise?"
The Master said, "Those who are without
virtue cannot abide long either in a
condition of poverty and hardship, or in
a condition of enjoyment. The virtuous
rest in virtue; the wise desire virtue."
The Master said, "It is only the truly
virtuous man, who can love, or who can
hate, others."
The Master said, "If the will be set on
virtue, there will be no practice of
wickedness."
The Master said, "Riches and honors are
what men desire. If they cannot be
obtained in the proper way, they should
not be held. Poverty and meanness are
what men dislike. If they cannot be
avoided in the proper way, they should
not be avoided.
"If a superior man abandon virtue, how
can he fulfill the requirements of that
name?
"The superior man does not, even for the
space of a single meal, act contrary to
virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves
to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves
to it."
The Master said, "I have not seen a
person who loved virtue, or one who
hated what was not virtuous. He who
loved virtue, would esteem nothing above
it. He who hated what is not virtuous,
would practice virtue in such a way that
he would not allow anything that is not
virtuous to approach his person.
"Is any one able for one day to apply
his strength to virtue? I have not seen
the case in which his strength would be
insufficient.
"Should there possibly be any such case,
I have not seen it."
The Master said, "The faults of men are
characteristic of the class to which
they belong. By observing a man's
faults, it may be known that he is
virtuous."
The Master said, "If a man in the
morning hear the right way, he may die
in the evening hear regret."
The Master said, "A scholar, whose mind
is set on truth, and who is ashamed of
bad clothes and bad food, is not fit to
be discoursed with."
The Master said, "The superior man, in
the world, does not set his mind either
for anything, or against anything; what
is right he will follow."
The Master said, "The superior man
thinks of virtue; the small man thinks
of comfort. The superior man thinks of
the sanctions of law; the small man
thinks of favors which he may receive."
The Master said: "He who acts with a
constant view to his own advantage will
be much murmured against."
The Master said, "If a prince is able to
govern his kingdom with the complaisance
proper to the rules of propriety, what
difficulty will he have? If he cannot
govern it with that complaisance, what
has he to do with the rules of
propriety?"
The Master said, "A man should say, I am
not concerned that I have no place, I am
concerned how I may fit myself for one.
I am not concerned that I am not known,
I seek to be worthy to be known."
The Master said, "Shan, my doctrine is
that of an all-pervading unity." The
disciple Tsang replied, "Yes."
The Master went out, and the other
disciples asked, saying, "What do his
words mean?" Tsang said, "The doctrine
of our master is to be true to the
principles-of our nature and the
benevolent exercise of them to
others,-this and nothing more."
The Master said, "The mind of the
superior man is conversant with
righteousness; the mind of the mean man
is conversant with gain."
The Master said, "When we see men of
worth, we should think of equaling them;
when we see men of a contrary character,
we should turn inwards and examine
ourselves."
The Master said, "In serving his
parents, a son may remonstrate with
them, but gently; when he sees that they
do not incline to follow his advice, he
shows an increased degree of reverence,
but does not abandon his purpose; and
should they punish him, he does not
allow himself to murmur."
The Master said, "While his parents are
alive, the son may not go abroad to a
distance. If he does go abroad, he must
have a fixed place to which he goes."
The Master said, "If the son for three
years does not alter from the way of his
father, he may be called filial."
The Master said, "The years of parents
may by no means not be kept in the
memory, as an occasion at once for joy
and for fear."
The Master said, "The reason why the
ancients did not readily give utterance
to their words, was that they feared
lest their actions should not come up to
them."
The Master said, "The cautious seldom
err."
The Master said, "The superior man
wishes to be slow in his speech and
earnest in his conduct."
The Master said, "Virtue is not left to
stand alone. He who practices it will
have neighbors."
Tsze-yu said, "In serving a prince,
frequent remonstrances lead to disgrace.
Between friends, frequent reproofs make
the friendship distant."
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