While in Wei, Confucius was playing the qing (a stone chime). A reclusive passerby carrying a straw basket happened to walk by Confucius’s gate and said upon hearing the sound, “Ah! There is intention behind this chime!”After a moment, he added, “How narrow-minded! So obstinately persistent! If no one understands you, just let it…
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.”
Zi Zhang asked about governance. The Master said, “Be tireless in holding your position, and carry out your duties with loyalty.”
Confucius said, “Only when the year turns cold do we know that the pine and cypress are the last to shed their leaves.”
Confucius said, “The commander of an army of three divisions may be taken away, but the will of an ordinary man cannot be taken from him.”
Confucius said, “There are cases where sprouts appear but no blossoms; there are cases where blossoms appear but no fruit!”
When speaking of Yan Hui, Confucius said, “What a pity! I saw him constantly advancing – I never saw him stop.”
Confucius said, “The one who never shows laziness when I speak to him – is it not Yan Hui?”
Confucius said, “Suppose you are piling up earth to make a mountain. If you stop just one basket short of completion – that stopping is my own doing. Suppose you are leveling ground, and even if you have only dumped one basket – you are advancing, because I am moving forward.”