The gentleman seeks harmony but not conformity; the petty man seeks conformity but not harmony.
The gentleman is dignified but not contentious; he is sociable but not cliquish.
The gentleman is all-inclusive but not partial; the petty man is partial but not all-inclusive.
The gentleman is open and free, while the petty man is always anxious and uneasy.
The benevolent are free from worry, the wise are free from doubt, and the brave are free from fear.
If one acts solely out of self-interest, resentment will abound.
If you seek benevolence and attain it, why should you complain?
If substance exceeds form, it becomes rustic; if form exceeds substance, it becomes superficial. Only when substance and form are balanced does one become a gentleman.
The gentleman plans for the Way, not for food; the gentleman worries about the Way, not about poverty.
When admonishment is proper, how can one not follow it? What is valuable is to change. When words are spoken with sincerity, how can one not be pleased? What is valuable is to analyze them. If one is pleased without analyzing, or follows without changing, there is nothing I can do about it.
When you see good, strive to catch up to it; when you see evil, treat it as if plunging into hot water.
The gentleman respects the worthy and tolerates the masses; he praises the good and pities the incompetent.
If a scholar attaches importance to comfort and home, he is not worthy of being called a scholar.
If a scholar is devoted to the Way but ashamed of coarse clothing and food, he is not worth discussing with.
In my fervent pursuit of learning, I forget to eat; in my joy, I forget my worries, and I do not realize that old age is approaching.
Eating coarse food, drinking water, using my arm as a pillow—there is joy in it too. Wealth and rank obtained through improper means are like floating clouds to me.
How exemplary was Hui! With a single basket of food and a gourd of water, dwelling in a shabby alley, others could not bear the sorrow, but Hui did not change his joy.
How exemplary was Hui!
Wealth and rank are what people desire; but if they are not obtained by the proper way, one does not accept them. Poverty and lowliness are what people dislike; but if they are not escaped by the proper way, one does not try to leave them.
If wealth and rank are attainable, even the work of a charioteer, I would do. If they are not attainable, I will follow my own passions.
Is it not a pleasure to have friends come from afar?
When seeing profit, consider justice; when facing danger, give up your life if necessary.
Cultivate oneself with reverence; cultivate oneself to bring peace to others… cultivate oneself to bring peace to the people.
He can be entrusted with the care of an orphan of six-foot height, he can be entrusted with the destiny of a state of a hundred li, and he will not be swayed when facing great crises.
Mindful scholars and benevolent people will not seek to preserve their lives at the cost of benevolence; they may sacrifice their lives to accomplish benevolence.
The gentleman hastens to leave this world with his name not fully established.
A person who is straightforward is honest and loves justice. He watches words and observes colors, and in consideration, he places himself below others.
The gentleman is at ease but not arrogant; the petty man is arrogant but not at ease.
The gentleman is easy to serve but hard to please. If you please him not by the Way, he does not feel pleased.
The gentleman's office is to act according to justice.
The Master spoke of Zichan: 'There are four aspects of the Way of a gentleman in him: his conduct toward himself is respectful, his service to his superiors is reverent, and his nourishment of the people is generous.'
