Quotes About Virtue

The Master said: 'Artful speech and an ingratiating demeanour rarely accompany virtue.

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

The noble minded act before speak, then they speak according to their actions.

Aspire to the principal, behave with virtue, abide by benevolence, and immerse yourself in the arts.

The Master said, "The gentleman harmonizes [he] without being an echo. The petty man echoes [tong] and does not harmonize.

Clever talk, ingratiating looks, fawning reverence: Tso-ch'iu Ming found that shameful, and so do I. Friendly while harboring resentment: Tso-ch'iu Ming found that shameful, too, and so do I.

The gentleman is dignified but not arrogant. The small man is arrogant but not digified

If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness.

The superior man, in the world, does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.

The Master was entirely free of four faults: arbitrariness, inflexibility, rigidity, and selfishness.

If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame. 2. 'If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good.

Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge.

Aquellos de espíritu superior entienden la justicia. Los ordinarios, el beneficio.

How dare I claim to be a sage or a benevolent man?

He said : Not to know the decree is to be without the means of being a proper man. 2. Not to know the rites is to be without means to construct. 3. Not to know words is to be without the fluid needful to understand men.

Very few go astray who comport themselves with restraint.

you govern effectively," Confucius replied, "what need is there for killing? If you want to be truly adept (shan ), the people will also be adept. The excellence (de ) of the exemplary person (junzi ) is the wind, while that of the petty person is the grass. As the wind blows, the grass is sure to bend.

When the Way prevails in the world, then be seen. When it does not, then hide.

Practicing archery is like practicing to be a Gentleman. When you miss the bulls-eye, you look for the error in yourself.

The junzi's stance towards the world is this: there is nothing he insists on, nothing he refuses, he simply aligns himself beside right.

A wise man is never cheated, a virtuous man is never worried and a courageous man is never afraid.

The gentleman understands what is moral. The small man understands what is profitable.

It takes very little to govern good people.

Without malefactors the world of the righteous is robbed of all meaning.