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Ji Zicheng said, “A noble person needs only inner substance—why bother with outward refinement?”Zigong replied, “What a pity, sir, that you speak this way of the noble person! Once words are spoken, even a team of four horses cannot overtake them. Refinement is as essential as substance, and substance is as essential as refinement.…
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Zhuang Bao (a close minister to King Xuan of Qi during the Warring States period.) went to see Mencius, and said, “I was given an interview by the king, who told me that he enjoyed music. I was at a loss what to say.”
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6.18 The Master said, “When natural substance prevails over ornamentation, you get the boorishness of the rustic. When ornamentation prevails over natural substance, you get the pedantry of the scribe. Only when ornament and substance are duly blended do you get the true gentleman.”
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3.20 Confucius said, “The Ospreys! Pleasure not carried to the point of debauch; grief not carried to the point of self-injury.”