Moral sayings of Confucius, a Chinese philosopher .. by Confucius

Author:Confucius. [from old catalog] & Barnard, L. E. [from old catalog]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Philosophy, Chinese, Ethics
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio, A. B. & co.
Published: 1855-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

It is just for a child to love his father; but if a father has any considerable defect, if he has committed any great fault, it is the duty of a son to acquaint him with it, and tell him what may be for his good; always keeping a due respect, from which he ought not to depart. Likewise, if a son be fallen into any vice, it is the duty of a father to reprove him, and give him his advice thereon. But if their love be blind,—if their love be a mere passion, this affection is an irregular affection. Why ? Because it digresseth from the rule of right reason.

18, A perfect man ought always to be busied in conquering himself. He must suit himself to the manners and tempers of others; but he ought always to be master of his own passions and actions; he must not suffer himself to be corrupted by the conversation or the examples of loose and effeminate persons; he must never obey till he has first examined what is commanded; he must never imitate others without judgment. In the midst of so many mad and blind persons who go at random, he must walk aright, and not incline to any party: this is the true valor. Moreover, if such a person be called to the magistracy, in a country where virtue be considered, and he change not his morals, how great soever the honors be,to which he is advanced; if he there preserves all the good habits which he had when only a private man; if he do not permit himself to be led away with pride and vanity,—this man is truly valiant! Ah, how great is this valor! But if, on the contrary, he be in a country where virtue and laws are contemned, and that in the confusion and disorder which there prevail, he himself be depressed with poverty,—afflicted, reduced even to the loss of life; but yet, in the midst of so many miseries, he remain constant, preserve all the inno'cency of his manners, and never change his opinion; ah, how great and illustrious is this valor!

14. There are some men, who surpass the bounds of mediocrity, by affecting to have extraordinary virtues. They covet always to have something marvellous in their actions, to the end that posterity may praise and extol them. Certainly, says Confucius, I shall never be enamored with these glittering actions, where vanity and self-love have ever a greater share than virtue. I would only know and practice what is necessary to be known aid practiced every where.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.