Xue Er (Book 1: Learning and Practice)
Confucius said: “Is it not a pleasure to learn and to practice what one has learned from time to time? Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar? Is one not a man of virtue if he is not resentful when others do not understand him?”
Master You said: “A person who is filial to his parents and respectful to his elder brothers, yet likes to offend his superiors, is rare indeed. One who does not like to offend his superiors, yet is fond of rebelling, has never existed. The noble person works on the root; when the root is established, the Way (the way of Ren) comes to life. Filial piety and fraternal respect—these are the root of Ren!”
Confucius said: “A person with clever words and a feigned appearance has little Ren.”
Master Zeng said: “I examine myself daily on three counts: whether I have been conscientious in working for others, whether I have been trustworthy in dealing with friends, and whether I have reviewed the teachings passed on to me.”
Confucius said: “To govern a state of a thousand chariots, one must be serious in attending to affairs, trustworthy, frugal in expenditures, care for the officials, and employ the common people only at the proper times.”
Confucius said: “Young people should be filial to their parents at home and respectful to their elders abroad. They should be cautious in speech, trustworthy, love all people broadly, and draw close to those with Ren. After practicing these, if they have energy left, they should study the classics.”
Zixia said: “A person who values virtue over beauty, who exhausts his strength in serving his parents, who gives his life in serving his ruler, and who is trustworthy in his dealings with friends—even if he says he has not studied, I would insist that he has.”
Confucius said: “If a noble person is not dignified, he will not be respected, and his learning will not be solid. Let him take loyalty and trustworthiness as his foundation, and not befriend those who are not his equals. If he has faults, let him not fear to correct them.”
Master Zeng said: “Be thorough in handling the funeral rites for parents, and reverently honor the sacrifices to ancestors—this will cause the people’s moral customs to return to simplicity and sincerity.”
Ziqin asked Zigong: “When the Master arrives in a state, he always learns about its governance. Does he seek this information, or is it given to him?” Zigong replied: “The Master obtains it through being gentle, good, respectful, frugal, and humble. The way he obtains it is perhaps different from others.”
Confucius said: “When a father is alive, observe his son’s intentions; when the father is dead, observe his son’s conduct. If for three years he does not change the ways of his father, he may be called filial.”
Master You said: “In the practice of ritual, harmony is the most valuable. This was the beauty of the ancient kings’ way of governing. But in both great and small matters, if one merely follows harmony without regulation, it will not always work. To seek harmony for its own sake, without ritual to temper it, is also not permissible.”
Master You said: “When trustworthiness aligns with righteousness, one’s words can be fulfilled. When respect aligns with ritual, one can stay clear of shame. When one relies on those who are not estranged from their kin, such a person is worthy of honor.”
Confucius said: “A noble person does not seek to eat to fullness or dwell in comfort. He is diligent in his work and cautious in speech. He draws near to those who possess the Way to correct himself. Such a person can be said to love learning.”
Zigong said: “What do you think of being poor without fawning, and rich without arrogance?” Confucius said: “That is acceptable, but it is better to be poor yet joyful in the Way, and rich yet fond of ritual.” Zigong said: “The Book of Songs says, ‘As cutting and filing, as chiseling and grinding’—is this what you mean?” Confucius said: “Ci, now I can discuss the Book of Songs with you. I tell you one thing, and you know what follows from it.”
Confucius said: “Do not worry that others do not understand you; worry that you do not understand others.”