Book IV · Li Ren

4.1

The Master said: "It is humaneness that makes a neighbourhood beautiful. If one chooses not to dwell among the humane, how can one be called wise?"

4.2

The Master said: "One who is not humane cannot long endure hardship, nor can he long enjoy prosperity. The humane are at ease in humaneness; the wise profit by humaneness."

4.3

The Master said: "Only one who is humane can truly love others and truly hate others."

4.4

The Master said: "If one has truly set one's heart on humaneness, one will be free from evil."

4.5

The Master said: "Wealth and honour are what people desire; if they cannot be had by the proper way, the gentleman does not abide in them. Poverty and lowliness are what people hate; if they cannot be escaped by the proper way, he does not flee them. If a gentleman abandons humaneness, how can he make a name? The gentleman does not depart from humaneness even for the space of a meal. In haste and hurry he holds to it; in stumbling and falling he holds to it."

4.6

The Master said: "I have never seen one who truly loves humaneness, or one who truly hates what is not humane. One who loves humaneness can place nothing above it. One who hates what is not humane practises humaneness in such a way that he does not let what is not humane come near his person. Is there anyone able to devote his strength to humaneness for a single day? I have never seen one whose strength was insufficient. Perhaps there is such a one, but I have never seen him."

4.7

The Master said: "People's faults each follow their kind. Observe a man's faults, and you will know his humaneness."

4.8

The Master said: "Having heard the Way in the morning, one may die content in the evening."

4.9

The Master said: "A scholar who has set his heart on the Way, yet is ashamed of poor clothes and poor food, is not worth talking with."

4.10

The Master said: "In his dealings with the world, the gentleman is not set for anything, nor against anything; he sides with what is right."

4.11

The Master said: "The gentleman cherishes virtue; the petty man cherishes his land. The gentleman cherishes the law; the petty man cherishes favours."

4.12

The Master said: "One who acts with an eye always to profit incurs much resentment."

4.13

The Master said: "If one can govern a state by ritual and deference, what difficulty will there be? If one cannot govern a state by ritual and deference, what good is ritual?"

4.14

The Master said: "Do not worry about having no position; worry about what will qualify you for one. Do not worry that no one knows you; seek to be worthy of being known."

4.15

The Master said: "Shen! My Way is threaded on a single strand." Master Zeng said: "Yes." When the Master had gone out, the disciples asked: "What did he mean?" Master Zeng said: "The Way of our Master is loyalty and reciprocity, and nothing more."

4.16

The Master said: "The gentleman understands what is right; the petty man understands what is profitable."

4.17

The Master said: "When you see a worthy man, think of becoming his equal; when you see an unworthy man, look within and examine yourself."

4.18

The Master said: "In serving his father and mother, a son may gently remonstrate. If he sees that they are not inclined to follow his advice, he remains respectful and does not go against them; he labours without complaining."

4.19

The Master said: "While his father and mother are alive, a son does not travel far; if he must travel, he lets them know where he is going."

4.20

The Master said: "If for three years he does not change his father's ways, he may be called filial."

4.21

The Master said: "One must always know the age of one's parents — on the one hand with joy, on the other with fear."

4.22

The Master said: "The ancients were slow to speak, ashamed lest their deeds should not keep pace with their words."

4.23

The Master said: "Those who err through restraint are few."

4.24

The Master said: "The gentleman wishes to be slow in speech and quick in action."

4.25

The Master said: "Virtue is never alone; it is sure to have neighbours."

4.26

Ziyou said: "In serving one's lord, importunity brings disgrace; between friends, importunity brings estrangement."