The Master sighed:“Alas! The Way will surely not be practiced in the world.”
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.”
The Master said:“How supreme is the Doctrine of the Mean!Yet among the people, few have been able to practice it for long!”
Confucius said:“The gentleman practices the Mean (zhong yong); the petty person opposes the Mean.The gentleman’s practice of the Mean means always maintains moderate –acting with appropriateness according to circumstances.The petty person’s so-called ‘Mean’ is merely recklessness and fearlessness –having no moral restraint or reverence.”
The Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean, both integral to the Confucian “Four Books,” share a focus on “self-cultivation, family harmony, state governance, and universal peace” but diverge in philosophical emphasis, stylistic approach, and practical pathways, forming a complementary system of Confucian ethics.
As one of the “Four Books” of Confucianism, The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong) stands as a profound guide to living in harmony with oneself, others, and the natural order. Attributed to Zisi, the grandson of Confucius, this text was originally a chapter in the Book of Rites before being elevated to a standalone…