Book II · Wei Zheng

2.1

The Master said: "One who governs by virtue may be compared to the North Star: it keeps its place, and all the other stars pay homage to it."

2.2

The Master said: "The Songs number three hundred, but one phrase covers them all: 'Let there be no swerving in your thoughts.'"

2.3

The Master said: "Guide the people with regulations, keep them in line with punishments, and they will avoid wrongdoing but have no sense of shame. Guide them with virtue, keep them in line with ritual, and they will have a sense of shame and set themselves right."

2.4

The Master said: "At fifteen I set my heart on learning; at thirty I took my stand; at forty I was free from doubts; at fifty I knew the decree of Heaven; at sixty my ear was attuned; at seventy I could follow what my heart desired without overstepping the line."

2.5

Meng Yizi asked about filial piety. The Master said: "Do not go against it." When Fan Chi was driving his chariot, the Master told him: "Mengsun asked me about filial piety, and I answered: 'Do not go against it.'" Fan Chi said: "What did you mean?" The Master said: "While they are alive, serve them according to ritual; when they die, bury them according to ritual and sacrifice to them according to ritual."

2.6

Meng Wubo asked about filial piety. The Master said: "Let your father and mother have no cause for worry except your falling ill."

2.7

Ziyou asked about filial piety. The Master said: "Nowadays filial piety means being able to feed one's parents. But even dogs and horses are fed. Without reverence, where is the difference?"

2.8

Zixia asked about filial piety. The Master said: "The difficulty lies in the expression of the face. When there is work to be done, the young bear the burden; when there is wine and food, the elders are served first — is that what you take to be filial piety?"

2.9

The Master said: "I can talk with Hui all day long, and he never disagrees with me, as if he were slow-witted. But when he has withdrawn and I observe his private life, I find he fully brings out what I said. Hui is not slow-witted."

2.10

The Master said: "See what a man does; observe the path he takes; examine what he rests content in. How can a man hide himself? How can a man hide himself?"

2.11

The Master said: "One who reviews the old and so comes to know the new is fit to be a teacher."

2.12

The Master said: "The gentleman is not a vessel."

2.13

Zigong asked about the gentleman. The Master said: "He first carries out what he would say, and only then speaks accordingly."

2.14

The Master said: "The gentleman is all-embracing and not partisan; the petty man is partisan and not all-embracing."

2.15

The Master said: "Learning without thinking is bewildering; thinking without learning is perilous."

2.16

The Master said: "To devote oneself to strange doctrines — that is harmful indeed."

2.17

The Master said: "You, shall I teach you what knowing is? To take what you know as knowing and what you do not know as not knowing — that is knowing."

2.18

Zizhang was studying in order to obtain an official salary. The Master said: "Hear much, set aside what is doubtful, and speak cautiously of the rest: then you will make few mistakes. See much, set aside what is risky, and act cautiously on the rest: then you will have few regrets. With few mistakes in speech and few regrets in action, the salary will come of itself."

2.19

Duke Ai asked: "What must be done for the people to be obedient?" Confucius answered: "Raise up the straight and set them over the crooked, and the people will be obedient. Raise up the crooked and set them over the straight, and the people will not be obedient."

2.20

Ji Kangzi asked: "How can one make the people respectful and loyal, and encourage them to be good?" The Master said: "Approach them with dignity, and they will be respectful. Be filial and kind, and they will be loyal. Raise up the good and instruct those who are not capable, and they will be encouraged."

2.21

Someone said to Confucius: "Why do you not take part in government?" The Master said: "The Book of Documents says: 'Filial! Only be filial, and a friend to your brothers.' To spread this to the conduct of government — that too is taking part in government. Why must one hold office to take part in government?"

2.22

The Master said: "A man who is not trustworthy — I do not know how he can get on. A large carriage without its yoke-bar, a small carriage without its collar-bar — how can they be made to go?"

2.23

Zizhang asked: "Can ten generations hence be known?" The Master said: "The Yin took over the rites of the Xia; what they removed and added can be known. The Zhou took over the rites of the Yin; what they removed and added can be known. Whoever may succeed the Zhou, even a hundred generations hence can be known."

2.24

The Master said: "To sacrifice to spirits that are not one's own is flattery. To see what is right and not do it is lack of courage."