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 Uploading ....Sample Passages from the Analects
Humanity and Treatment of Others
Zi Zhang asked Confucius about humanity. Confucius said: “To be able to
practice five virtues everywhere in the world constitutes humanity.” Zi
Zhang begged to know what these were. Confucius said: “Courtesy,
magnanimity, good faith, diligence, and kindness. He | | Confucius Teaching |
who is courteous is not humiliated, he who is magnanimous wins the
multitude, he who is of good faith is trusted by the people, he who is
diligent attains his objective, and he who is kind can get service from
the people” (Book 17, Chapter 6).
Tsze-yu asked what filial piety was. The Master said, "The filial piety
of now-a-days means the support of one's parents. But dogs and horses
likewise are able to do something in the way of support;–without
reverence, what is there to distinguish the one support given from the
other?" (Book 2, Chapter 7)
Tsze-chang asked how a man should conduct himself, so as to be everywhere appreciated.
The Master said, "Let his words be sincere and truthful, and his
actions honourable and careful;– such conduct may be practiced among
the rude tribes of the South or the North. If his words be not sincere
and truthful and his actions not honourable and careful, will he, with
such conduct, be appreciated, even in his neighborhood? (Book 15,
Chapter 5, Numbers 1 and 2).
Education
The Master said, "Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous" (Book 2, Chapter 15).
1. The Master said, "At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning.
2. "At thirty, I stood firm.
3. "At forty, I had no doubts.
4. "At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven.
5. "At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth.
6. "At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right" (Book 2, Chapter 4).
Jen Tzu-kung
said, "Suppose I put the case of a man who extensively confers benefits
on the people, and is able to assist everyone, what would you say about
him? Might he be called perfectly humane?" The Master said, "Why speak
only of humaneness in connection with him? Must he not have the
qualities of a sage? . . . Now the man of perfect humaneness, wishing
to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to
be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others. To be able to
judge of others by what is nearby in ourselves, that is what we might
call the art of humaneness."
Government
Tzu-kung asked about government. The Master said, "The requisites of
government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of
military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler."
Tzu Kung said, "If it cannot be helped, and one of these must be
dispensed with, which of the three should be foregone first?" "The
military equipment," said the Master. Tzu Kung again asked, "If it
cannot be helped and one of the remaining two must be dispensed with,
which of them should be foregone?" The Master answered, "Part with the
food. From of old, death has been the lot of humanity; but if the
people have no faith in their rulers, there is no standing for the
state."
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