Confucius
Confucius
Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryChina
able demand difficulty
If proper in their own conduct, what difficulty would they have in governing? But if not able to be proper in their own conduct, how can they demand such conduct from others?
hands wish confucianism
Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.
teacher men yield
Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher.
teaching class distinction
In teaching there should be no distinction of classes.
different plans lays
Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another.
wise anxiety virtuous
The wise are free from perplexities; the virtuous from anxiety; and the bold from fear.
men grieving know-me
Grieve not that men do not know you; grieve that you do not know men.
men grieving people
The good man does not grieve that other people do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs.
taken men may
The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.
mind worship ifs
If my mind is not engaged in my worship, it is as though I worshipped not.
names rectify
What is necessary is to rectify names.
blow government wind
Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend, when the wind blows across it.
movement looks speak
Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.
men principles may
Men of principle are sure to be bold, but those who are bold may not always be men of principle.