The Analects of Confucius | Page 4

MEAN

CONFUCIAN ANALECTS. BOOK I. HSIO R.




CHAPTER I.
1. The Master said, 'Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and
application? 2. 'Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?' 3. 'Is he
not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure though men may take no note
of him?'
CHAP. II. 1. The philosopher Yu said, 'They are few who, being filial and fraternal, are
fond of offending against their superiors. There have been none, who, not liking to offend
against their superiors, have been fond of stirring up confusion. 2. 'The superior man
bends his attention to what is radical.
That being established, all practical courses naturally grow up. Filial piety and fraternal
submission!-- are they not the root of all benevolent actions?' CHAP. III. The Master said,
'Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.' CHAP.
IV. The philosopher Tsang said, 'I daily examine myself on three points:-- whether, in
transacting business for others, I may have been not faithful;-- whether, in intercourse
with friends, I may have been not sincere;-- whether I may have not mastered and
practised the instructions of my teacher.'
CHAP. V. The Master said, To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be
reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;
and the employment of the people at the proper seasons.' CHAP. VI. The Master said, 'A
youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be
earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all, and cultivate the friendship of the
good. When he has time and opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should

employ them in polite studies.' CHAP. VII. Tsze-hsia said, 'If a man withdraws his mind
from the love of beauty, and applies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous; if, in
serving his parents, he can exert his utmost strength;
if, in serving his prince, he can devote his life; if, in his intercourse with his friends, his
words are sincere:-- although men say that he has not learned, I will certainly say that he
has.' CHAP. VIII. 1. The Master said, 'If the scholar be not grave, he will not call forth
any veneration, and his learning will not be solid. 2. 'Hold faithfulness and sincerity as
first principles. 3. 'Have no friends not equal to yourself. 4. 'When you have faults, do not
fear to abandon them.' CHAP. IX. The philosopher Tsang said, 'Let there be a careful
attention to perform the funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone
with the ceremonies of sacrifice;-- then the virtue of the people will resume its proper
excellence.'
CHAP. X. 1. Tsze-ch'in asked Tsze-kung, saying, 'When our master comes to any
country, he does not fail to learn all about its government. Does he ask his information?
or is it given to him?' 2. Tsze-kung said, 'Our master is benign, upright, courteous,
temperate, and complaisant, and thus he gets his information. The master's mode of
asking information!-- is it not different from that of other men?' CHAP. XI. The Master
said, 'While a man's father is alive, look at the bent of his will; when his father is dead,
look at his conduct. If for three years he does not alter from the way of his father, he may
be called filial.'
CHAP. XII. 1. The philosopher Yu said, 'In practising the rules of propriety, a natural
ease is to be prized. In the ways prescribed by the ancient kings, this is the excellent
quality, and in things small and great we follow them. 2. 'Yet it is not to be observed in
all cases. If one, knowing how such ease should be prized, manifests it, without
regulating it by the rules of propriety, this likewise is not to be done.' CHAP. XIII. The
philosopher Yu said, 'When agreements are made according to what is right, what is
spoken can be made good. When respect is shown according to what is proper, one keeps
far from shame and disgrace. When the parties upon whom a man leans are proper
persons to be intimate with, he can make them his guides and masters.' CHAP. XIV. The
Master said, 'He who aims to be a man of complete virtue in his food does not seek to
gratify his appetite, nor
in his dwelling place does he seek the appliances of ease; he is earnest in what he is doing,
and careful in his speech; he frequents the company of men of principle that he may be
rectified:-- such a person may be said indeed to love to learn.' CHAP. XV. 1.