The Wisdom of Confucius
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Recorded or compiled by others
- Condition of the text:
- Clean text
- Extent:
- ~55,200 words · 262 passages
Cite this work
- APAConfucius. (n.d.). The Wisdom of Confucius. SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/confucius/the-wisdom-of-confucius
- MLAConfucius. "The Wisdom of Confucius." SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/confucius/the-wisdom-of-confucius.
- ChicagoConfucius. The Wisdom of Confucius. SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/confucius/the-wisdom-of-confucius.
What it is about
A third English anthology.
Context and history
**Warning: it also overlaps with the other two.** These compilations were made for readers who would never open the Four Books, and each picks what it likes. What they must not be taken for is separate works.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
"To learn," said the Master, "and then to practise opportunely what one has learnt--does not this bring with it a sense of satisfaction? "To have associates in study coming to one from distant parts--does not this also mean pleasure in store? "And are not those who, while not comprehending all that is said, still remain not unpleased to hear, men of the superior order?" A saying of the Scholar Yu:-- "It is rarely the case that those who act the part of true men in regard to their duty to parents and elder brothers are at the same time willing to turn currishly upon their superiors: it has never yet been the case that such as desire not to commit that offence have been men willing to promote anarchy or disorder. "Men of superior mind busy themselves first in getting at the root of things; and when they have succeeded in this the right course is open to them. Well, are not filial piety and friendly subordination among brothers a root of that right feeling which is owing generally from man to man?" The Master observed, "Rarely do we meet with the right feeling due from one man to another where there is fine speech and studied mien." The Scholar Tsang once said of himself: "On three points I examine myself daily, viz., whether, in looking after other people's interests, I have not been acting whole-heartedly; whether, in my intercourse with friends, I have not been true; and whether, after teaching, I have not myself been practising what I have taught." The Master once observed that to rule well one of the larger States meant strict attention to its affairs and conscientiousness on the part of the ruler; careful husbanding of its resources, with at the same time a tender care for the interests of all classes; and the employing of the masses in the public service at suitable seasons. "Let young people," said he, "show filial piety at home, respectfulness towards their elders when away from home;
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