7.38 The Master’s manner was affable yet firm, commanding but not harsh, polite but easy.
7.35 When the Master was very ill, Zilu asked leave to perform the Rite of Expiation.
7.34 The Master said, “As to being a Divine Sage or even a benevolent man, far be it from me to make any such claim. As for unwearying effort to learn and unflagging patience in teaching others, those are merits that I do not hesitate to claim.”
7.33 The Master said, “As far as taking trouble goes, I do not think I compare badly with other people. But as regards carrying out the duties of a gentleman in actual life, I have never yet had a chance to show what I could do.”
7.32 When in the Master’s presence anyone sang a song that he liked, he did not join in at once, but asked for it to be repeated and then joined in.
7.31 The Minister of Crime in Chen asked whether Duke Zhao of Lu knew the rites.
7.30 The Master said, “Is benevolence indeed so far away? If we really wanted benevolence, we should find that it was at our very side.” 子曰：「仁遠乎哉？我欲仁，斯仁至矣。」 Notes This statement from the Analects by Confucius by no means denies the loftiness of benevolence, but rather emphasizes its attainability. Benevolence does not belong exclusively to sages…