SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Confucian ethics

  • The Analects – Chapter 15.15

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    Ana

    The Master said, “Be strict with yourself and lenient in blaming others, and you will stay far from resentment.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 15.13

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    Ana

    The Master sighed, “Alas! I have never seen anyone who loves virtue as much as he loves beauty (or sensual attraction).”

  • The Analects – Chapter 15.9

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    Ana

    The Master said, “The determined scholar and the humane person will never seek to preserve their life at the expense of benevolence (humaneness); they would rather sacrifice their life to fulfill humaneness.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 15.4

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    Ana

    The Master said with a sigh, “You, Zhong You! Truly, those who understand virtue are few indeed!”

  • The Analects – Chapter 15.2

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    Ana

    While in Chen, Confucius and his followers ran out of food. His disciples fell ill from hunger and could not get up. Zilu, visibly angry, came to see him and asked, “Can even a noble person (junzi) fall into such desperate straits?”The Master replied, “The noble person steadfastly endures poverty; when the petty person…

  • The Analects – Chapter 14.43

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    Ana

    Yuan Rang was sitting with his legs sprawled open, waiting casually for Confucius. The Master said, “When you were young, you showed no modesty or respect for elders; when you grew up, you achieved nothing worth mentioning; now that you are old and still refuse to die, you are nothing but a pest!” With…

  • The Analects – Chapter 14.42

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    Ana

    Zilu asked Confucius, “What makes a noble person (junzi)?”The Master said, “Cultivate yourself with reverence.”Zilu asked, “Is that all?”The Master replied, “Cultivate yourself so as to bring peace to others.”Zilu asked again, “Is that all?”The Master said, “Cultivate yourself so as to bring peace to all the people. Even Yao and Shun would have…

  • The Analects – Chapter 14.34

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    Ana

    Someone asked, “What about repaying resentment with virtue?”The Master replied, “Then what would you use to repay virtue? Repay resentment with uprightness, and repay virtue with virtue.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 14.31

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    Ana

    The Master said, “Do not anticipate deceit, nor assume dishonesty in advance. Yet if one can discern it beforehand, such a person is indeed wise!”