Mencius praises Liu Xiahui, who refused to trade his unwavering moral integrity for the supreme rank of Three High Ministers. It highlights that inner uprightness is priceless and unshakable, far above worldly power and glory.
Zizhang criticizes shallow moral practitioners: those who uphold virtue without magnanimity and follow the Dao without firm faith are spiritually insignificant, lacking lofty vision and unwavering resolve to live a meaningful life.
The Master said, “The noble person is steadfast in principle but not rigidly bound by petty fidelity.”
While in Chen, Confucius and his followers ran out of food. His disciples fell ill from hunger and could not get up. Zilu, visibly angry, came to see him and asked, “Can even a noble person (junzi) fall into such desperate straits?”The Master replied, “The noble person steadfastly endures poverty; when the petty person…
Confucius said, “There are those with whom one can study together, but not proceed together on the Way; those with whom one can proceed on the Way, but not stand firm with; and those with whom one can stand firm, but not exercise discretion.”
Confucius said, “Only when the year turns cold do we know that the pine and cypress are the last to shed their leaves.”
When you have material gains to pursue, do not make hasty decisions to do so simply because of their easy accessibility.
Those who preserve their moral integrity suffer only fleeting loneliness. But eternal wretchedness awaits those who toady to the powerful.