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The Sayings Of Confucius

Jun. 7, 2021

Read time: 6 minutes and 22 seconds.

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A Review

Here’s a collection of timeless wisdom from Confucius’ sayings and teachings from 400 BC. Using reflection to understand his success and fault lines, Confucius leaves the reader with wonder as small phrases can contain deep truths and reveal more about someone based upon their actions. Characterizing (or judgement) helps determine whether or not you, the reader, are navigating correctly along “The Way”. Confucius thought remains influential throughout East Asia with respect to concepts of family, responsibility, and duty (to state and work) in a cultural perspective. Understanding Confucianism has unlocked great Eastern wisdom recommended to anyone who enjoys spiritual classics.

Highlights

The Master said, The three hundred poems are summed up in the one line, Think no evil.

- Page 14 (location ~ 207-207)

11. The Master said, To keep old knowledge warm and get new makes the teacher.

- Page 15 (location ~ 227-228)

The Master said, A gentleman is broad and fair; the small man takes sides and is narrow.

- Page 16 (location ~ 231-231)

The Master said, A man without truth, I know not what good he is! A cart without a crosspole, a carriage without a yoke, how can they be moved?

- Page 17 (location ~ 247-248)

The Master said, To worship the ghosts of men not akin to us is fawning. To see the right and not do it is want of courage.

- Page 17 (location ~ 253-254)

4. Lin Fang asked what good form is at root. The Master said, A big question! At high-tides, thrift is better than waste; at burials, grief is worth more than nicety.

- Page 20 (location ~ 302-303)

One asked the meaning of the Great Sacrifice. The Master said, I do not know. He that knew the meaning would overlook all below heaven as I do this?and he pointed to his palm.

- Page 22 (location ~ 331-332)

Wang-sun Chia[30] said, What is the meaning of, It is better to court the hearth-god than the god of the home? Not so, said the Master. A sin against Heaven leaves no room for prayer. 14. The Master said, Chou[31] looks back on two lines of kings. How rich,

- Page 22 (location ~ 335-338)

Wang-sun Chia[30] said, What is the meaning of, It is better to court the hearth-god than the god of the home? Not so, said the Master. A sin against Heaven leaves no room for prayer.

- Page 22 (location ~ 335-337)

16. The Master said, In shooting, the arrow need not go right through the target, for men are not the same in strength. This was the old rule.

- Page 23 (location ~ 341-342)

The Master said, Rank without beauty; ceremony without reverence; mourning without grief, why should I cast them a glance?

- Page 24 (location ~ 365-366)

The Master said, Love makes a spot beautiful: who chooses not to dwell in love, has he got wisdom?

- Page 27 (location ~ 408-409)

The Master said, Loveless men cannot bear need long, they cannot bear fortune long. Loving men find peace in love, the wise find profit in it.

- Page 27 (location ~ 409-410)

The Master said, Love alone can love others, or hate others.

- Page 27 (location ~ 411-411)

The Master said, Loveless men cannot bear need long, they cannot bear fortune long. Loving men find peace in love, the wise find profit in it. 3. The Master said, Love alone can love others, or hate others. 4. The Master said, A will set on love is free from evil. 5. The Master said, Wealth and honours are what men desire; but do not go from the Way, to keep them. Lowliness and want are hated by men; but do not go from the Way, to escape them. Shorn of love, is a gentleman worthy of the name? Not for one moment may a gentleman sin against love; he must not do so in flurry and haste, nor do so in utter overthrow. 6. The Master said, I have seen no one that loves love and hates uncharity. He that loves love will set nothing higher. The hater of uncharity is so given to love that no uncharity can enter into his life. If a man were to give his strength to love for one day, I have seen no one whose strength would fail him. There may be such men, but I have not seen one. 7. The Master said, A man and his faults are of a piece. By watching his faults we learn whether love be his. 8. The Master said, To learn the Way at daybreak and die at eve were enough. 9. The Master said, A knight[36] in quest of the Way, who is ashamed of bad clothes and bad food, it is idle talking to. 10.

- Page 27 (location ~ 409-421)

10. The Master said, A gentleman has no likes or dislikes below heaven. He follows right. 11. The Master said, The gentleman cherishes mind, the small man cherishes dirt. Gentlemen trust in the law, the small man trusts in favour.

- Page 28 (location ~ 421-423)

25. The Master said, A great soul is never friendless: he has always neighbours.

- Page 29 (location ~ 440-440)

26. Tzu-yu said, Nagging at kings brings disgrace, nagging at friends estrangement.

- Page 29 (location ~ 441-441)

The Master said, When I first met men I listened to their words and took their deeds on trust. When I meet them now, I listen to their words and watch their deeds. I righted this on Y?.

- Page 32 (location ~ 476-478)

11. Tzu-kung said, What I do not wish done to me, I likewise wish not to do to others. The Master said, That is still beyond thee, Tz’u.

- Page 32 (location ~ 480-481)

14. Tzu-kung asked, Why was K’ung-wen called cultured? The Master said, He was quick and loved learning; he was not ashamed to ask those beneath him: that is why he was called cultured.

- Page 32 (location ~ 483-485)

16. The Master said, Matter outweighing art begets roughness; art outweighing matter begets pedantry. Matter and art well blent make a gentleman. 17. The Master said, Man is born straight. If he grows

- Page 39 (location ~ 590-592)

16. The Master said, Matter outweighing art begets roughness; art outweighing matter begets pedantry. Matter and art well blent make a gentleman.

- Page 39 (location ~ 590-591)

16. The Master said, Matter outweighing art begets roughness; art outweighing matter begets pedantry. Matter and art well blent make a gentleman. 17. The Master said, Man is born straight. If he grows crooked and yet lives, he is lucky to escape. 18. The Master said, He that knows is below him that loves, and he that loves below him that delights therein. 19. The Master said, To men above the common we can talk of higher things; to men below the common we must not talk of higher things. 20. Fan Ch’ih[60] asked, What is wisdom? The Master said, To foster right among the people; to honour ghosts and spirits, and yet keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom.

- Page 39 (location ~ 590-597)

16. The Master said, Matter outweighing art begets roughness; art outweighing matter begets pedantry. Matter and art well blent make a gentleman. 17. The Master said, Man is born straight. If he grows crooked and yet lives, he is lucky to escape. 18. The Master said, He that knows is below him that loves, and he that loves below him that delights therein. 19. The Master said, To men above the common we can talk of higher things; to men below the common we must not talk of higher things. 20. Fan Ch’ih[60] asked, What is wisdom? The Master said, To foster right among the people; to honour ghosts and spirits, and yet keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom. He asked, What is love? The Master said, To rank the effort above the prize may be called love.

- Page 39 (location ~ 590-598)

The Master said, Not making the most of my mind, want of thoroughness in learning, failure to do the right when told it, lack of strength to overcome faults; these are my sorrows.

- Page 43 (location ~ 659-660)

4. In his free moments the Master was easy and cheerful. 5. The Master said, How deep is my decay! It is long since I saw the Duke of Chou[65] in a dream. 6. The Master said, Keep thy will on the Way, lean on mind, rest in love, move in art. 7. The Master said, From the man that paid in dried meat upwards, I have withheld teaching from no one. 8. The Master said, Only to those fumbling do I open, only for those stammering do I find the word. If I lift one corner and the other three are left unturned, I say no more.

- Page 44 (location ~ 661-666)