The Wisdom of Confucius: with Critical and Biographical SketchesConfucius
ReligionEastern
The Wisdom of Confucius: with Critical and Biographical Sketches
Confucius
Ethics -- China; Philosophy, Chinese
Tsz-yu had said, "The pupils in the school of Tsz-hiá are good enough
at such things as sprinkling and scrubbing floors, answering calls and
replying to questions from superiors, and advancing and retiring to
and from such; but these things are only offshoots--as to the root of
things they are nowhere. What is the use of all that?"
When this came to the ears of Tsz-hiá, he said, "Ah! there he is
mistaken. What does a master, in his methods of teaching, consider
first in his precepts? And what does he account next, as that about
which he may be indifferent? It is like as in the study of
plants--classification by _differentiæ_. How may a master play fast
and loose in his methods of instruction? Would they not indeed be
sages, who could take in at once the first principles and the final
developments of things?"
Further observations of Tsz-hiá:--
"In the public service devote what energy and time remain to study.
After study devote what energy and time remain to the public service.
"As to the duties of mourning, let them cease when the grief is past.
"My friend Tsz-chang, although he has the ability to tackle hard
things, has not yet the virtue of philanthropy."
The learned Tsang observed, "How loftily Tsz-chang bears himself!
Difficult indeed along with him to practise philanthropy!"
Again he said, "I have heard this said by the Master, that 'though men
may not exert themselves to the utmost in other duties, yet surely in
the duty of mourning for their parents they will do so!'"
Again, "This also I have heard said by the Master: 'The filial piety
of Mang Chwang in other respects might be equalled, but as manifested
in his making no changes among his father's ministers, nor in his
father's mode of government--that aspect of it could not easily be
equalled.'"
Yang Fu, having been made senior Criminal Judge by the Chief of the
Mang clan, consulted with the learned Tsang. The latter advised him as
follows: "For a long time the Chiefs have failed in their government,
and the people have become unsettled. When you arrive at the facts of
their cases, do not rejoice at your success in that, but rather be
sorry for them, and have pity upon them."
Tsz-kung once observed, "We speak of 'the iniquity of Cháu'--but 'twas
not so great as this." And so it is that the superior man is averse
from settling in this sink, into which everything runs that is foul in
the empire.
Again he said, "Faults in a superior man are like eclipses of the sun
or moon: when he is guilty of a trespass men all see it; and when he
is himself again, all look up to him."
Kung-sun Ch‘au of Wei inquired of Tsz-kung how Confucius acquired
his learning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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