Excerpts from the Analects of Confucius
In World Civ, we were assigned to read excerpts from the Analects of Confucius, which was put together by Confucius’s students of things he said. From this document I have compiled a few excerpts of my own that I found particularly interesting…
…Chunk-Kung asked about humanity, Confucius said, “Behave when away from home as though you were in the presence of an important guest. Deal with the common people as though you were officiating at an important sacrifice. Do not do to others what you wouldn’t no want them to do to you. Then there will be no dissatisfaction either in the state or at home.”
...Someone inquired: “what do you think of ‘requiting injury with kindness’?” Confucius said; “How will you then requite kindness? Requite injury with justice, and kindness with kindness.”
…Tzu-Yu asked about filial piety. Confucius said: “Nowadays a filial son is just a man who keeps his parents in food. But even the dogs or horses are given food. If there is no feeling of reverence, wherein lies the difference?”
…Once when Confucius was in Ch’en, the supply of food was exhausted, and some of his followers became so weak that they could not stand up. Tzu Lu came to the master in disgust, saying: “Then even a gentleman can be reduced to such traits?” Confucius said: “A gentleman may indeed be so reduced. But when an inferior man is in straits he is apt to do anything.”
…Confucius said: “Lead the people by laws and regulate them by penalties, and the people will try to keep out of jail, but will have no sense and shame. Lead the people by virtue and restrain them by rules of decorum, and the people will have a sense of shame, and moreover will become good.”
…Tzu Kung asked about government. Confucius said: “The essentials are sufficient food, sufficient troops, and the confidence of the people.” Tzu Kung said: “Suppose you were forced to give up one of these three, which would you let go first?” Confucius said: “The troops.” Tzu Kung asked again: “If you were forced to give up one of the two remaining, which would you let go?” Confucius said: “Food. For from of old, death has been the lot of old men, but a people without faith cannot survive.”
On the Gentleman…
…Confucius said: “When nature exceeds art you have the rustic. When art exceeds nature you have a clerk. It is only when art and nature are harmoniously blended that you have the gentleman.”
“The gentleman first practices what he preaches and then preaches what he practices.”
“The gentleman is always calm and at ease; the inferior man is always worried and full of distress.”
“The gentleman understands what is right; the inferior man understands what is profitable.”
“The gentleman cherishes virtue; the inferior man cherishes possessions. The gentleman thinks of sanctions; the inferior man thinks of personal favors.”
“The gentleman makes demands on himself; the inferior man makes demands on others.”
“The gentleman seeks to enable people to succeed in what is good but does not help them in that is evil. The inferior man does the contrary.”
“The gentleman is broad-minded and not partisan; the inferior man is partisan and not broad-minded.”
