A Man of Wisdom

I continue today from my last posting.

My encouragement today is to read or reread the writings of Confucius (551 B.C.-479 B.C.) He was not religious, meaning theological, but no one I have ever read has given more sage counsel on what wisdom is, how to govern, and what it means to be a gentleman. I aspire to the latter as being a cardinal virtue. Rereading Confucius’ collected sayings, as I am now doing, will help me, I am sure, in polishing up certain areas of my life. I supply for you today a few of his gems as an inducement for you, too, to learn more:

• The Master said, The men of old were loath to speak, for not to live up to their words would have shamed them. A gentleman wishes to be slow to speak and quick to do. A gentleman …puts words into deeds first, and follows these up with words.
• A gentleman is broad and fair; the small man takes sides and is narrow.
• The gentleman is learned in right; the small man is learned in gain. A gentleman has no likes or dislikes below heaven. He follows right. The gentleman cherishes mind, the small man cherishes dirt. Gentleman trust in the law, the small man trusts in favor. Learning without thought is naught; thought without learning is dangerous.
• Care not for want of place; care for thy readiness to fill one.
• Shorn of love, is a gentleman worthy of the name? Not for one moment may a gentleman sin against love. Smooth words and fawning looks are seldom found with love. Tseng-tzu (a disciple) said: Thrice daily I ask myself: In dealing for others, have I been unfaithful? Have I been untrue to friends? Do I practice what I preach? Three branches of the Way are dear to a gentleman: To banish from his bearing violence and disdain; to sort his face to the truth, and to banish from his speech what is low or unseemly.
• A disciple asked: What is love? The Master said, To rank the effort above the prize may be called love. Love is to conquer self and turn to courtesy. If we could conquer self and turn to courtesy for one day, all below heaven would turn to love. Love is to be humble at home, earnest at work, and faithful to all.
• The Master said, A gentleman never strives with others.
• The Master said, By breadth of reading and the ties of courtesy, a gentleman is kept, too, from false paths. Seeking a foothold for self, love finds a foothold for others; seeking light for itself, it enlightens others too. To learn from the near at hand may be called the clue to love.
• Shall I teach thee what is wisdom? To know what we know, and know what we do not know, is wisdom. Hear much, leave all that is doubtful alone, speak warily of everything else, and few will be offended. See much, leave all that is dangerous alone, deal warily with everything else, and thou wilt have little to rue.
• A gentleman that does not seek to eat his fill, nor look for ease in his home, who is earnest at work and careful of speech, who walks with those that keep the Way, and is guided by them, may be said to love learning. Love learning. Do not carry over anger. Make no mistake twice.
• The Master said, Not to be known is no sorrow. My sorrow is not knowing men. Put faithfulness and truth first; have no friends unlike thyself, be not ashamed to mend thy faults. A man and his faults are of a piece. By watching his faults we learn whether love be his. When I first met men I listened to their words and took their deeds on trust. When I meet them now, I listen to their words and watch their deeds.
• The Master said, Of the ways of a gentleman Tzu-ch’an had four: His life was modest; he honored those that he served; He was kind in feeding the people, and he was just in his calls upon them.
• My wishes are: To give the old folk peace, to be true to friends, and to have a heart for the young.
• The Master said, Not making the most of my mind, want of thoroughness in learning, failure to do the right when told it, lack of strength to overcome faults; these are my sorrows. Fight the bad in thee, not the bad in other men, will not evil be mended? Learn as though the time were short, like one that fears to lose.
• To men above the common we can talk of higher things; to men below the common we must not talk of higher things. The people may be made to follow; we cannot make them understand. Tzu-kung asked about friends. The Master said, Talk faithfully to them, and guide them well. If this is no good, stop. Do not bring shame upon thee. A gentleman is nowise careless of his words.

These thoughts, but a few of his which are recorded, ring true to me; if not yet to my young friends mentioned in my previous posting, I hope they at least ring the bell.