Confucius said, “When one hears stern, principled words that accord with ritual and righteousness, can one fail to obey? But what matters is genuinely correcting oneself. When one hears gentle, agreeable words of guidance, can one fail to feel pleased? But what matters is carefully reflecting on their meaning. If one merely feels pleased…
Confucius said, “There are cases where sprouts appear but no blossoms; there are cases where blossoms appear but no fruit!”
When speaking of Yan Hui, Confucius said, “What a pity! I saw him constantly advancing – I never saw him stop.”
Confucius said, “The one who never shows laziness when I speak to him – is it not Yan Hui?”
Confucius said, “Suppose you are piling up earth to make a mountain. If you stop just one basket short of completion – that stopping is my own doing. Suppose you are leveling ground, and even if you have only dumped one basket – you are advancing, because I am moving forward.”
Confucius said, “I have never seen anyone who loves virtue as much as they love beauty.”
Confucius stood by a river and said, “What passes away is like this – never ceasing day or night!”
Confucius said, “When outside, I serve dukes and ministers; at home, I serve my father and elder brothers. In matters of mourning, I never fail to do my utmost; I am never overcome by wine. What difficulty is there for me in these things?”