It is rare, indeed, for a man
with cunning words and an ingratiating face to be benevolent.
A young man should be a good son
at home and an obedient young man abroad, sparing of speech but trustworthy in
what he says and should love the multitude at large but cultivate the
friendship of his fellow men. If he has any energy to spare from such action,
let him devote it to making himself cultivated.
Observe what a man has in mind to
do when his father is living, and then observe what he does when his father is
dead. If for three years, he makes no changes to his father’s ways, he can be
said to be a good son.
The rule of virtue can be
compared to the Pole Star which commands the homage of the multitude of stars
without leaving its place.
To attack a task from the wrong
end can do nothing but harm.
It is only the benevolent man who
is capable of liking or disliking other men.
If a man sets his heart on
benevolence, he will be free from evil.
If one is guided by profit in
one’s actions, one will incur much ill will.
It is rare for a man to miss the
mark through holding on to essentials.
Virtue never stands alone. It is
bound to have neighbours.
To be fond of something is better
than merely to know it, and to find joy in it is better than merely to be fond
of it.
The common people can be made to
follow a path but not to understand it.
The gentleman helps others to
realise what is good in them; he does not help them to realise what is bad in
them. The small man does the opposite.
Claims made immodestly are
difficult to live up to.
A good horse is praised for its
virtue, not for its strength.
Men of antiquity studied to
improve themselves; men today study to impress others.
To fail to speak to a man who is
capable of benefiting is to let a man go to waste. To speak to a man who is
incapable of benefiting is to let one’s words got to waste. A wise man lets
neither men nor words got to waste.
I suppose I should give up hope.
I have yet to meet the man who is as fond of virtue as he is of beauty in
women.
The gentleman hates not leaving
behind a name when he is gone.
What the gentleman seeks, he
seeks within himself; what the small man seeks, he seeks in others.
When faced with the opportunity
of benevolence do not give precedence even to your teacher.
It is enough that the language
one uses gets the point across.
It is only the most intelligent
and the most stupid who are not susceptible to change.
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