Selections From the Master

Selections From the Master
by Scott Bradley

Here are some Confucian maxims which show some of the 'better' side of his teaching:

"The Master said, (the good man) does not grieve that other people do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs." (I 16)

"He does not preach what he practices till he practices what he preaches." (II 13)

"In the morning hear the Way; in the evening, die content!" (IV 8)

"The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse." (XII 16)

"Attack the evil that is within yourself; do not attack the evil that is in others." (XII 21)

"In the old days men studied for the sake of self-improvement; nowadays men study in order to impress other people." (XIV 25)

"Not to talk to one who could be talked to, is to waste a man. To talk to those who cannot be talked to, is to waste one's words." (XV 7)

"The demands that a gentleman makes are upon himself; those that a small man makes are upon others." (XV 20)

"A gentleman does not accept men because of what they say, nor reject sayings, because the speaker is what he is." (XV 22)

"Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you." (XV 23)

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