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Confucius traced his teachings back to Yao and Shun,and took Wen and Wu as his models for institutions.Above, he conformed to the rhythms of Heaven’s seasons;below, he followed the patterns of earth, water, and soil.
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The Master said:“How supreme is the Doctrine of the Mean!Yet among the people, few have been able to practice it for long!”
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3.11 Someone asked for an explanation of the Ancestral Sacrifice. Confucius said, “I do not know. Anyone who knew the explanation could deal with all things under Heaven as easily as I lay this here”; and he laid his finger upon the palm of his hand.
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The factors of decay are already latent in times of greatest prosperity, and a new lease of life starts to exist at a time when everything is in decay.
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Whatever I do, I leave some part of it unfinished; that way the Creator will not frown on me and the ghosts and spirits will not be able to harm me.
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A sea-gull alighted in a suburb of the capital of Lu. The Marquis of Lu welcomed it and feasted it in the temple hall, ordering the royal music and grandest sacrifices for it.