SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

ethical leadership

  • The Analects – Chapter 13.11

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    Ana

    The Master said, “If a good person governs a state for a hundred years, he can overcome cruelty and abolish capital punishment. Truly, this saying is correct!”

  • The Analects – Chapter 13.9

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    Ana

    Confucius was traveling to the state of Wei, with his disciple Ran You driving his carriage. Seeing how populous Wei was, Confucius remarked, “So many people!” Ran You asked, “Now that there are so many people, what should be done next?” Confucius replied, “Make them prosperous.” Ran You then asked, “Once they are prosperous,…

  • The Analects – Chapter 13.1

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    Ana

    Zilu asked about governance. The Master said, “Lead by example, and then ask the people to work hard.”Zilu asked for more guidance. The Master said, “Never grow weary.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 12.20

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    Ana

    Zi Zhang asked, “What must a scholar-official be like to be considered ‘influential’ (illustrious, truly accomplished or genuinely influential)?”The Master asked in return, “What do you mean by ‘influential’?”Zi Zhang replied, “Someone who is well-known in the state and well-known in his family.”Confucius said, “That is merely fame or reputation, not true ‘influential’.True ‘influential’…

  • The Analects – Chapter 12.7

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    Ana

    Zigong asked about governance. The Master said, “Ensure sufficient food, sufficient military strength, and the people’s trust.”Zigong asked, “If, under unavoidable circumstances, one of these three must be abandoned, which should go first?”The Master replied, “Abandon the military.”Zigong asked again, “If, under further unavoidable circumstances, another must be abandoned between the remaining two, which…

  • The Analects – Chapter 11.25

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    Ana

    Zilu appointed Zigao as magistrate of Fei. The Master said, “You are harming that young man!”Zilu replied, “There are people to govern and altars of soil and grain to tend – why must one read books before being considered learned?”The Master retorted, “This is precisely why I detest glib talkers who twist words to…

  • The Analects – Chapter 11.1

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    Ana

    The Master said, “Those who studied ritual and music before entering government were commoners from the countryside; those who entered government first and then studied ritual and music were nobles (junzi). If I were to choose whom to employ, I would follow the former group.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 9.14

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    Ana

    Confucius wanted to move and live among the Nine Yi (barbarian tribes in the remote east). Someone said, “That place is too crude – how can you live there?” Confucius replied, “If a noble person lives there, how can it be called crude?”

  • Doctrine of the Mean Chapter 6. The Wisdom of the Mean in Action: Shun’s Governance

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    Ana

    The Master said:“How supremely wise was Shun!He loved to ask questions and was attentive to even the most ordinary words.He concealed what was evil and promoted what was good.Grasping the two extremes, he applied the Mean to the people.It was precisely this that made him Shun!”