The unnamed East Sea Hermit was once friends with official Wang Liang. After Wang resigned from high office, the hermit reproached him for craving political posts despite insufficient virtue, cut off contact forever, and won great admiration for his strict moral standards.
Two orthodox Lu Confucians rejected Shusun Tong’s summons to draft Han court rituals. They criticized him for pushing rites amid post-war chaos, arguing proper rituals need a century of virtue. Unwilling to compromise ancient principles, they sent him away to preserve their integrity.
Chen Zhongzi shunned his brother’s ill-gotten salary and endured extreme poverty. When Chu’s king offered him premiership, his wife warned of political perils. The couple declined the post and fled to earn a living watering gardens.
Mencius distinguishes two sage types: Yao and Shun act virtuously by innate nature, while Tang and Wu regain virtue through self-cultivation. True morality is selfless; gentlemen follow principles and calmly accept fate.
-by Zhou Dunyi (Song Dynasty) Among the flowers of land and water, many are lovely. During the Jin Dynasty, Tao Yuanming alone loved the chrysanthemum. Since the Tang Dynasty, people have greatly favored the peony.
Mencius said: “Bo Yi would not serve a ruler he did not approve of, nor befriend anyone he deemed unworthy.”
The father is kind to his children. The children are filial to their parents. Elder brothers cherish younger brothers, who in tum respect their elder brothers. Even if such conduct reaches the acme of perfection, it is no more than what ought to be done; it is not a matter of gratitude.
In conducting yourself, do not expect to accomplish the greatest things; so long as you do not make mistakes, you make achievements.