The Master said, “The noble person worries about his own lack of ability, not about others’ failure to recognize him.”
The Master said, “The noble person takes righteousness as his substance, practices it through ritual propriety, expresses it with humility, and completes it through trustworthiness. Truly a noble person!”
The Master said, “For one who never asks, ‘What should I do? What should I do?’ I, for my part, can do nothing about him.”
The Master sighed, “Alas! I have never seen anyone who loves virtue as much as he loves beauty (or sensual attraction).”
The Master said, “If a person has no long-term considerations, he will surely encounter immediate worries.”
Yan Hui asked Confucius, “How should one govern a state?”The Master replied, “Use the Xia dynasty’s calendar, ride the Shang dynasty’s chariot, wear the Zhou dynasty’s ceremonial cap, and for music, adopt the Shao and Wu dances. Ban the music of Zheng and keep away from flattering and crafty people. The music of Zheng…