Riches and honours are what men desire; yet except in accordance with right these should not be enjoyed. Poverty and degradation are what men dread; yet except in accordance with right these should not be avoided.
The faults of men are characteristic of themselves. By observing a man's faults you may infer what his virtues are.
If a man hear the Truth in the morning, he may die in the evening without regret.
Chi Wen thought thrice and then acted. The Master said, Twice will do.
Man is born to be upright. If he be not so, and yet live, he is lucky to have escaped.
Those who know the Truth are not equal to those who love it; nor those who love it to those who delight in it.
A disciple having asked for a definition of charity,[1] the Master said Love One Another! Having further asked for a definition of knowledge, the Master said, Know One Another!
Rare are they who prefer virtue to the pleasures of sex.
The commander-in-chief of an army may be carried captive, but the convictions even of the meanest man cannot be taken from him.
A disciple having enquired about serving the spirits of the dead, the Master said, You are not even able to serve living men. How then should you serve spirits? Having further enquired about death, the Master said, You do not even understand life. How then should you understand death?
In hearing litigations, I am like any one else. I differ, in wishing to prevent these litigations.
Some one asked Confucius, saying, Master, what think you concerning the principle that good should be returned for evil?
- ↑ In its theological sense. See 1 Corinthians, xiii, Authorized Version. Since this volume was first published, the Revised Version has substituted "love" in all cases.
