1. The Master said, He that rules by mind is like the north star, steady in his seat, whilst the stars all bend to him. 2. The Master said, The three hundred poems are summed up in...
1. The Master said, To learn and then do, is not that a pleasure? When friends come from afar do we not rejoice? To live unknown and not fret, is not that to be a gentleman? 2. Yu-...
1. The Master said, A teller and not a maker, one that trusts and loves the past; I might liken myself to our old P'eng. 2. The Master said, To think things over in silence, to lea...
1. The Master said, Yung might fill the seat of a prince. And might Tzu-sang Po-tzu? asked Chung-kung. Yes, said the Master; but he is slack. To be stern to himself, said Chung-kun...
1. Ling, Duke of Wei, asked Confucius about the line of battle. Confucius answered. Of the ritual of dish and platter I have heard somewhat: I have not learnt warfare. He left the...
1. The Chi was about to make war on Chuan-yue. When Confucius saw Jan Yu and Chi-lu, they said to him, The Chi is going to deal with Chuan-yue. Confucius said, After all, Ch'iu, ar...
1. The Master said, Love makes a spot beautiful: who chooses not to dwell in love, has he got wisdom? 2. The Master said, Loveless men cannot bear need long, they cannot bear fortu...
1. The Master said, T'ai-po may be said to have carried nobility furthest. Thrice he refused all below heaven. Men were at a loss how to praise him. 2. The Master said, Without goo...
1. Of the Chi having eight rows of dancers in his courtyard, Confucius said, If this is to be borne, what is not to be borne? 2. When the sacrifice was ended, the Three Clans had t...
1. Tzu-chang said, The knight that stakes his life when he sees danger, who in sight of gain thinks of right, and whose thoughts are reverent at worship, and sad when he is in mour...
1. Yao said, Hail to thee, Shun! The count that Heaven is telling falls on thee. Keep true hold of the centre. If there be stress or want within the four seas, the gift of Heaven w...
1. Yen Yuean asked, What is love? The Master said, Love is to conquer self and turn to courtesy. If we could conquer self and turn to courtesy for one day, all below heaven would t...
1. Among his own country folk Confucius wore a homely look, like one that has no word to say. In the ancestral temple and at court his speech was full, but cautious. 2. At court he...
1. Tzu-lu asked how to rule. The Master said, Go before; work hard. When asked to say more, he said, Never flag. 2. When he was steward of the Chi, Chung-kung asked how to rule. Th...
1. Hsien asked, What is shame? The Master said, To draw pay when the land keeps the Way and to draw pay when it has lost the Way, is shame. 2. To eschew strife and bragging, spite...
1. Yang Huo wished to see Confucius. Confucius did not go to see him. He sent Confucius a sucking pig. Confucius chose a time when he was out, and went to thank him. They met on th...
1. The Master said, Savages! the men that first went into courtesy and music! Gentlemen! those that went into them later! My use is to follow the first lead in both. 2. The Master...
1. Of Kung-yeh Ch'ang the Master said, A girl might be wedded to him. Though he has been in fetters that was not his crime. He gave him his daughter to wed. Of Nan Jung the Master...
1. The Master seldom spake of gain, or love, or the Bidding. 2. A man of the village of Ta-hsiang said, The great Confucius, with his vast learning, has made no name in anything. W...
1. The lord of Wei left, the lord of Chi was made a slave, Pi-kan spake out, and died. Confucius said, Three of the Yin had love. 2. Whilst Liu-hsia Hui was Chief Knight he was dis...