Confucius
Confucius
Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryChina
settling hundred difficulty
Settle one difficulty, and you keep a hundred away.
goes-on may principles
There are some with whom we may study in common, but we shall find them unable to go along with us to principles. Perhaps we may go on with them to principles, but we shall find them unable to get established in those along with us. Or if we may get so established along with them, we shall find them unable to weigh occurring events along with us.
horse mouths four
Even four harnessed horses cannot bring imprudent words back into the mouth.
ambition men may
From the loving example of one family a whole State may become loving, and from its courtesies, courteous; while from the ambition and perverseness of the one man the whole State may be thrown into rebellious disorder. Such is the nature of influence.
learning faithful way
The really faithful lover of learning holds fast to the Good Way till death.
learning two able
When I walk along with two others, from at least one I will be able to learn.
life mountain lasts
If I am building a mountain and stop before the last basketful of earth is placed on the summit, I have failed.
nature pedants culture
When nature exceeds culture, we have the rustic. When culture exceeds nature then we the pedant.
secret confucianism minutes
There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.
done way firsts
If doing what ought to be done be made the first business and success a secondary consideration--is not this the way to exalt virtue?
excess spirit
Excess weakens the spirits.
reflection mirrors objects
The mirror reflects all objects without being sullied
justice faults serious
Just as lavishness leads easily to presumption, so does frugality to meanness. But meanness is a far less serious fault than presumption.
punishment expectations gossip
If one leads them with administrative measures and uses punishments to make them conform, the people will be evasive, but if one leads them with virtue, they will come up to expectations.