• The Analects – Chapter 16.10

    Confucius said, “The noble person has nine things to reflect on: in seeing, think of clarity; in hearing, think of acuteness; in facial expression, think of warmth; in demeanor, think of respectfulness; in speech, think of sincerity; in action, think of diligence; in doubt, think of asking; in anger, think of the difficulties it…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.9

    Confucius said, “Those who understand by birth are the highest; those who understand through learning come next; those who learn only after encountering difficulties are yet lower; and those who encounter difficulties but still do not learn – these are the lowest of the people.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.8

    Confucius said, “The noble person has three things to revere: reverence for the Mandate of Heaven, reverence for persons of high station or great virtue (‘daren’), and reverence for the words of the sages. The petty person, not understanding the Mandate of Heaven, feels no reverence; treats exalted persons with undue familiarity; and mocks…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.7

    Confucius said, “The noble person has three things to guard against: in youth, when one’s vital energies (xue qi) are not yet settled, guard against lust; in prime adulthood, when vital energies are at their strongest and most vigorous, guard against contentiousness; in old age, when vital energies have declined, guard against greed.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.6

    Confucius said, “When serving a noble person, there are three common faults: to speak before it is your turn is called impetuousness; to remain silent when it is your turn to speak is called concealment; and to speak without observing the other’s expression is called blindness.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.5

    Confucius said, “There are three kinds of beneficial joys and three kinds of harmful joys. To take joy in regulating oneself through rites and music, to take joy in praising others’ virtues, and to take joy in having many worthy friends – these are beneficial. To take joy in arrogance, to take joy in…