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Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 9. Why the Mean is hard to be practiced
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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!”
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Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 8. Holding fast to Goodness and Sustaining the Mean
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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.”
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Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 7. The illusion of wisdom: Knowing without sustained practice is not enough
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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.”
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Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 5. Confucius’ lament and the call to moral perseverance
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The Master sighed:“Alas! The Way will surely not be practiced in the world.”
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Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 4. Beyond Excess and Deficiency: The Mean in Everyday Life
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The Master said:“I know why the Way is not practiced:the wise go too far, while the foolish fall short.I know why the Way is not understood:the virtuous overreach, while the unworthy do not reach it at all.Everyone eats and drinks, yet few truly discern the flavor.”