On being asked, “What is wisdom,” the master replied, “To promote right thoughts and feelings among men; to honour the spirits of the dead.”  In reply to the question, “What is love?” the master answered, “Making most of self-sacrificing efforts but of success only in a subordinate degree.”

Perfect virtue consists in keeping to the Golden Mean.  He who has offended against Heaven has no one to whom he can pray.

Men should not murmur against Heaven, for all that Heaven does is good.

The master paid great attention to three things—­piety, peace, and health.

If I have coarse rice to eat and pure water to drink, and my bent arm for a pillow, I am content and happy.  But ill-gotten riches and honour are to me as a floating cloud.

If my life could be lengthened out by a few years, I would devote at least fifty years to the study of the “Yi King” [Book of Changes], then might I be purified from my sin.

ON POETRY, HISTORY, AND PROPRIETY

The master constantly talked about poetry, history, and the rules of propriety.

Tze-lu, on being asked about Confucius, gave no answer.  The master asked about being present, said, “Why didst thou not say to him, ’Confucius is a man so eager in the pursuit of knowledge that he forgets his food, so jubilant in its attainment that he forgets his grief and grows old without knowing it’?”

I was not born in the possession of knowledge, but I am fond of the past and study it closely, and hence knowledge is coming to me.

My pupils, do not think that I hide anything from you.  Whatever I think and do I tell you frankly and truly.  I keep no secrets from my disciples.

The master used to teach four things:  culture, morals, and manners, piety, and faithfulness.

In knowledge and in culture I am perhaps the equal of other men.  I have not yet attained to perfection, nor are my knowledge and living consistent.

The master once being very ill, Tze-lu asked permission to pray for him.  The master asked, “Is that customary?” “It is,” replied the disciple, “for the memorials have it, ’Pray to the spirits in heaven above and on earth below.’” The master replied, “I have for long prayed for myself, and that is best.”

The master was dignified, yet gentle.  He was majestic, but inspired no fear.  He was gentlemanly, but always at ease.

Poetry rouses the mind, the rules of propriety establish the character, music crowns a man’s education.

It would be hard to meet a man who has studied for three years without learning something good.

Learn as though you felt you could never learn enough, and as though you feared you could not learn in your short life what is needful for conduct.

A man from a certain village once said, “Confucius is, no doubt, a very learned man, but he has not made himself a name in any special thing.”  When the master heard this, he said to his disciples, “What shall I undertake:  charioteering, archery, or what?  I think I shall become a charioteer, and thus get me a name.”