Monday, May 22, 2006

Confucious said:

Confucious said:

-instead of self-interest, think of justice.

-the virtuous does not worry about things beyond his control.

-the virtuous loves virtue; the inferior man loves material things. the virtuous seeks justice; the inferior man seeks personal favors

-the virtuous sees the strengths of others, not their weaknesses.

-the virtuous lives in harmony with others, but he does not follow the crowd.

-the virtuous is sure of himself but not arrogant. the inferior man is both arrogant and lacking self-confidence.

-the virtuous understands principle. the inferior man understands profit.

-the virtuous remains steady in times of crisis. the inferior man crumbles.

-the inferior man always denies his mistakes.

-if a person is not honest and trustworthy, what good is he?

-if you choose to live where there is no virtue, how can you become wise?

-if you strive for virtue, you will be free of evil.

-if you place responsibility over success, won't your virtue increase? if you work on your own evil rather than critizicing the evil of others, won't you overcome evil? if, out of a fit of anger, you endanger your own life as well as the lives of your parents, isn't that a case of delusion?

-speak with sincerity and honesty, be humble and respectful, and you will get along even if you live among barbarians. if someone speaks insincerely and dishonestly, and if he is not humble and respectful, then he will have trouble even among his own people.

-if you govern with laws and punishments, the people will avoid crime but will have no sense of honor or shame. if you govern by means of virtue and the rules of proper conduct (property), the people will have a sense of shame and will want to do what is right.

-if you know what is right and don't do it, you are a coward.

-DON'T DO TO OTHERS WHAT YOU DON'T WANT DONE TO YOU.

-to say that you know when you do know and to admit that you don't know when you don't. this is the path of knowledge.

-speaking without mistakes and acting without regrets: that is true advancement.

-if your words are grand, you will find that it is difficult for your actions to measure up to them.

-ancient warlords were valiant; the warlords of today are just hot-headed.

-if you concentrate on small gains, you will never achieve anything great.

-he who is strict with himself will rarely go wrong.

-to be poor without resentment is difficult. to be rich without arrogance is easy.

-expect much from yourself and little fron others, and you will avoid arousing resentments.

-I AM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT LACK OF SUCCESS; I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE MEANS I USE TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS.

-wealth and honors obtained unjustly are but floating clouds.

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