-
Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 10. Confucius on Moral Fortitude beyond Martial Valor
Zilu asked about strength.The Master said:“Do you mean the strength of the South? The strength of the North? Or the strength that is truly yours to cultivate?
-
Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 9. Why the Mean is hard to be practiced
The Master said:“The world and the state may be governed with fairness;titles and emoluments may be renounced;even bare blades may be trodden upon –yet the Doctrine of the Mean is what cannot be practiced!”
-
Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 8. Holding fast to Goodness and Sustaining the Mean
The Master said:“Yan Hui was such a person –he chose the Doctrine of the Mean.Whenever he grasped even a single point of goodness,he held it close to his heart with unwavering devotion and never let it go.”
-
Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 7. The illusion of wisdom: Knowing without sustained practice is not enough
The Master said:“Everyone says, ‘I am wise!’Yet when driven into nets, snares, and traps,none of them knows how to avoid them.Everyone says, ‘I am wise!’Yet even if they choose the Doctrine of the Mean,they cannot hold to it for even a month.”
-
Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 5. Confucius’ lament and the call to moral perseverance
The Master sighed:“Alas! The Way will surely not be practiced in the world.”