The Master said, “In language, it is enough that words convey meaning clearly.”
Zigong asked, “Is there one word that can be practiced for a lifetime?” The Master said, “Perhaps it is ‘shu’ (reciprocity)! Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
The Master said, “Do not anticipate deceit, nor assume dishonesty in advance. Yet if one can discern it beforehand, such a person is indeed wise!”
The Master said, “Is someone praised merely because his words sound sincere and earnest? Is he truly a noble person (junzi), or just someone who puts on a solemn appearance?”
When Confucius entered the Grand Temple (the ancestral temple of the ruler), he asked about every detail of the rites.
When fasting for ritual purification, one must wear a special clean garment made of plain cloth. During the fast, one must change one’s usual diet and also move to a different place to sit or sleep.
When Confucius held the jade tablet (a ceremonial scepter used in diplomatic missions), he bowed slightly, appearing reverent and cautious, as if he could barely bear its weight. When raising it upward, his gesture resembled a bow; when lowering it, it was like offering something to another. His expression was solemn, almost tense, and…