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The Master said, “When paths differ, one does not conspire together.”
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Ji Ziran asked, “Can Zhong You and Ran Qiu be considered great ministers?”The Master replied, “I expected you to ask about something extraordinary – instead, you ask about You and Qiu! A great minister serves his ruler according to the Way (Dao); if this is not possible, he withdraws. As for You and Qiu,…
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Mencius said: “A person must know what not to do, before they can truly accomplish anything meaningful.”
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When Mencius served as a high minister in Qi state, he was sent to the state of Teng to offer condolences on behalf of Qi. The king assigned Wang Huan, the governor of Ge, as his deputy for the mission. Throughout the journey – both going to Teng and returning to Qi – Wang…
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Mencius said: “Bo Yi would not serve a ruler he did not approve of, nor befriend anyone he deemed unworthy.”
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6.26Zai Yu asked saying, “I take it a benevolent man, even if he were told that another benevolent man were at the bottom of a well, would go to join him?”
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Do not discard your views just because others doubt them. Do not stick stubbornly to your own opinions while rejecting out of hand those of others.
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When King Zhou ordered chopsticks made of ivory, Ji Zi was most perturbed. He reasoned: “Ivory chopsticks demand rhino horn cups; rhino cups demand exotic delicacies; delicacies demand silk robes and palace halls. This insatiable chain will end in tyranny and ruin.”