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The Analects – Chapter 206 (8.20). Virtue and talent in governance
8.20Shun had five ministers and all that is under Heaven was well ruled.
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The Analects – Chapter 205 (8.19). The Sage-King ideal – Emperor Yao
8.19The Master said, “Greatest, as lord and ruler, was Yao. Sublime, indeed, was he. ‘There is no greatness like the greatness of Heaven,’ yet Yao could copy it. So boundless was it that the people could find no name for it; yet sublime were his achievements, dazzling the insignia of his culture!”
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The Analects – Chapter 204 (8.18). Confucius’ praise of Shun and Yu’s – the selfless rulers
8.18The Master said, “Sublime were Shun and Yu! All that is under Heaven was theirs, yet they remained aloof from it.”
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The Analects – Chapter 203 (8.17). Confucius on the urgency and reverence of learning
8.17The Master said, “Learn as if you were following someone whom you could not catch up, as though it were someone you were frightened of losing.”
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The Analects – Chapter 202 (8.16). Against Hypocrisy: Confucius on authentic virtue beyond performance
8.16The Master said, “Impetuous, but tricky! Ingenuous, but dishonest! Simple-minded, but capable of breaking promises! To such men I can give no recognition.”