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Master You said,”In your promises cleave to what is right, and you will be able to fulfill your word; In your obeisances cleave to ritual, and you will keep dishonour at bay; In the partnership, choose those conversant ones, as they can stand the test of time. “
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The Master said, “While a man’s father is alive, you can only see his intentions; it is when his father dies that you discover whether or not he is capable of carrying them out. If for the whole three years of mourning he manages to carry on the household exactly as in his father’s…
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Ziqin said to Zigong, “When our Master arrives in a fresh country he always manages to find out about its policy. Does he do this by asking questions, or do people tell him of their own accord?”
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The Master said, “If a gentleman is frivolous, he will lose the respect of his inferiors and lack firm ground upon which to build up his education. First and foremost he must learn to be faithful to his superiors, to keep promises, to refuse the friendship of all who are not faithful or trustworthy.…
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Zixia said, “A man who values people for their virtue and talent, and honoring noble qualities above external appearances, who into serving father and mother knows how to put his whole strength, who in the service of his prince will lay down his life, who in intercourse with friends is true to his word…
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The Master said, “A young man’s duty is to behave well to his parents at home and to his elders abroad, to be cautious in giving promises and punctual in keeping them, to have kindly feelings towards everyone, but seek the intimacy of the Good. If, when all that is done, he has any…