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The Best of the Analects, a Confucian classic
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The source of these varied sayings and quotations is Lun Yu (The Analects)
attributed to Confucius, in Dr. Arthur Waley's translation (1938).Have a look: The complete Analects, translated by James Legge.
What I Learnt from Confucian Lore: Chapters
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
Supporting "well medleys" are presupposed
throughout:1
Those who
are without friends to enjoy the late night with, could cultivate politeness for
starters
FINE WORDS and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.Have no night-friends not equal to yourself, and no friend not practicing the rules of propriety
When someone has time off and opportunity, he should employ them in polite studies.
A man of complete virtue is earnest in what he is doing, savoury and careful in his speech.
A youth should cultivate the friendship of the good. (2)
There are different kinds of
politeness; one is to give careful attention to delighting things, step by step, to be
respected
IN ORDER to investigate well, sincerity is needed. (3)Sincerity can be cultivated and brought to one or more forms of order, by steps.
Let there be a careful attention to the sacrifices of excellence. (4)
It can be delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters.
Go for rewarding principles
with respect for business and truthfulness: that could work well
WHO IS a friend is benign enough to be with. (5)Who is benign may get his information.
Frequent the company of men who are rewarding to be wit.
Feel no discomposure although men take no note of you. (6)
The poor man who yet does not flatter, and the rich man who is not proud will do; but they are not equal to him, who, though poor is yet cheerful, and to him, who, though rich appreciates decency all right.
Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.
The superior man focuseshis attention to the basics involved. From it, courses naturally grow up.
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
A youth should be earnest and truthful. (7)
Employ people at the proper seasons.
Advance those who are earnest and truthful.
Adhere to reverent attention to business,
In transacting business for others: faithful - in intercourse with friends: stay
sincere - and master and practice the instructions of your favourite teacher.
Summary
- Friendless people, alone throughout the nights, could cultivate politeness for starters. There is no harm in that.
- There are different kinds of politeness and different sorts of businesses and friends. Yet one is to give careful attention to delighting things, step by step, to be respected. That is the principle.
- Go for rewarding principles with respect for business and truthfulness: that could work well.
There is no harm in cultivating truthful and suave (bland) politeness and
respectability with due care. Opportunities for business may evolve after time,
The politeness of Churchill
At one time during World War I Churchill went across to France as a volunteer to
watch the fighting at first hand. In his sandbagged shelter at the front line, he was
brought a message from a visiting general that he knew formerly, who wanted to see him. He
was to walk to a crossroads about three miles away, where a car would pick him up and take
him to the general.After Churchill had waited at the crossroads for nearly an hour, one of the general's officers came and told him that the car had been sent to the wrong crossroads and now it was too late for the meeting.
Churchill began to trudge back to the trenches in the dark and the rain. He was in a very bad humor, cursing the thoughtless general. But when he got back to his shelter, it no longer existed. Five minutes after he had left, a shell had come through the roof and killed the man inside it. Churchill records,
"Suddenly I felt my irritation against General X pass completely from my mind. All sense of grievance departed in a flash. As I walked to my new abode, I reflected how thoughtful it had been of him to wish to see me again, and to show courtesy to a subordinate when he had so much responsibility on his shoulders."
[Content from other chapters is being prepared. - T. Kinnes]
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Adjoined
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CLICK on 'Literature' for the references of about 2000 works.
ANNOTATIONS: Acronym letters in square brackets in the text refer to works. Click on 'Literature' above for examples. Page references are put right after reference letters. The abbreviation cf. means "compare". [MORE].
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