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The Analects – Chapter 139 (6.21). Confucius’ pedagogy of aptitude-based teaching
6.21 The Master said, “To men who have risen at all above the middling sort, one may talk of things higher yet. But to men who are at all below the middling sort it is useless to talk of things that are above them.”
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The Analects – Chapter 138 (6.20). Confucius’ three realms of intellectual fulfillment
6.20The Master said, “To prefer it is better than only to know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.”
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The Analects – Chapter 137 (6.19). Confucius on integrity as life’s foundation
6.19The Master said, “Man’s very life is honesty, in that without it he will be lucky indeed if he escapes with his life.”
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The Analects – Chapter 136 (6.18). Balancing substance and refinement in noble character
6.18 The Master said, “When natural substance prevails over ornamentation, you get the boorishness of the rustic. When ornamentation prevails over natural substance, you get the pedantry of the scribe. Only when ornament and substance are duly blended do you get the true gentleman.”
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The Analects – Chapter 135 (6.17). Confucius’ metaphor of the Dao as humanity’s guiding principle
6.17The Master said, “Who expects to be able to go out of a house except by the door? How is it then that no one follows this Way of ours?
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The Analects – Chapter 134 (6.16). Confucius on substance over surface
6.16 The Master said, “Without the eloquence of the priest Tuo and the beauty of Prince Chao of Song it is hard nowadays to get through.”