Great Throughts Treasury

"Tsze-kung asked, saying, “Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one’s life?” The Master said, “Is not Reciprocity such a word? What you do not want don’t to yourself, do not to others.”"

"Tzu-lu asked about government. The Master said, “Lead them; encourage them!” Tzu-lu asked for a further maxim. The Master said, “Untiringly.”"

"To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage."

"Tzu-kung asked saying, `Is there any single saying that one can act upon all day and every day?’ The Master said, `Perhaps the saying about consideration: Never do unto others what you would not like them to do to you.’"

"We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression; the heart of a wise man should resemble a mirror, which reflects every object without being sullied by any."

"What is God-given is called nature; to follow nature is called Tao (the Way); to cultivate the way is called culture. Before joy, anger, sadness and happiness are expressed, they are called the inner self; when they are expressed to the proper degree, they are called harmony. The inner self is the correct foundation of the world, and the harmony is the illustrious Way. When a man has achieved the inner self and harmony, the heaven and earth are orderly and the myriad of things are nourished and grow thereby."

"What you do not want done to yourself do not do to others."

"When a prince’s personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed."

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."

"While still unable to do your duty to the living, how can you do your duty to the dead?... Not yet understanding life, how can you understand death?"

"When young, beware of fighting; when strong, beware of sex; and when old, beware of possession."

"Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?"

"Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men."

"A disciple having asked for a definition of charity, the Master said, "Love one another.""

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."

"Real knowledge is to know the extent of ones ignorance."

"Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses."

"Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I'll remember. Involve me and I'll understand."

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trial."

"The superior man understands righteousness; the inferior man understands profit."

"The superior man is ashamed if his words are better than his deeds."

"To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness."

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest."

"To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge."

"An exemplary person defers on matters he does not understand. When names are not used properly, language will not be used effectively; when language is not used effectively, matters will not be taken care of."

"Confucius is driven by such eagerness to teach and learn that he forgets to eat, he enjoys himself so much that he forgets to worry, and does not even realize that old age is on its way."

"Daily I examine my person on three counts. In my undertaking on behalf of other people, have I failed to do my utmost? In my interactions with colleagues and friends, have I failed to make good on my word? In what has been passed on to me, have I failed to carry it into practice? ? Master Zeng"

"Do I possess all knowledge? No, I do not. But if a simple peasant puts a question to me, and I come up empty, I attack the question from both ends until I have gotten to the bottom of it."

"Deference, tolerance, making good on one?s word, diligence, and generosity. If you are deferential (respectful), you will not suffer insult; if tolerant, you will win over the many; if you make good on your word, others will rely upon you; if diligent, you will get results; if generous, you will have the status to employ others effectively. (On the five attitudes.)"

"Do not impose upon others what you yourself do not want."

"Exemplary persons are steadfast in the face of adversity, while petty persons are engulfed by it."

"Don?t try to rush things, and don?t get distracted by small opportunities. If you try to rush things, you won?t achieve your ends; if you get distracted by small opportunities, you won?t succeed in the more important of government. (On governing effectively.)"

"Do not plan the policies of an office you do not hold."

"Don?t worry about not being acknowledged by others; worry about failing to acknowledge them."

"Exemplary persons are easy to serve but difficult to please. If one tries to please them with conduct that is not consistent with Dao (noble path, the way), they will not be pleased. In employing others, they use them according to their abilities. Petty persons are difficult to serve but easy to please. If one tries to please them with conduct that is not consistent with the way, they will be pleased anyway. But in employing others, they expect them to be good at everything."

"Exemplary persons help out the needy; they do not make the rich richer."

"Exemplary persons do not promote others because of what they say, nor do they reject what is said because of who says it."

"Exemplary persons cherish fairness; petty persons cherish the thought of gain."

"Exemplary persons associating openly with others are not partisan; petty persons being partisan do not associate openly with others."

"Exemplary persons understand what is appropriate; petty persons understand what is of personal advantage."

"Exemplary persons would feel shame if their words were better than their deeds."

"If in one?s conduct one refrains from intimidation, from self-importance, from ill will, and from greed, can one be considered authoritative."

"Having gone astray, to fail to get right back on track is to stray indeed."

"I am not the kind of person who has gained knowledge through some natural propensity for it. Rather, loving antiquity, I am earnest in seeking it out."

"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?"

"If truly efficacious (effective) people were put in charge of governing for a hundred years, they would be able to overcome violence and dispense with killing altogether."

"In instruction, there is no such thing as social classes."

"In expressing oneself, it is simply a matter of getting the point across."

"It?s rare indeed for someone to go wrong due to personal restraint."

"In mourning, it is better to express real grief than to worry over formal details."