The analects Quotes

“Poor food and water for dinner, a bent arm for a pillow – that is where joy resides. For me, wealth and renown without honor are nothing but drifting clouds.”

“Poor food and water for dinner, a bent arm for a pillow – that is where joy resides. For me, wealth and renown without honor are nothing but drifting clouds.”

“Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”

“Lord Chi Wen thought three times before taking any action. When the Master heard this, he said: Twice is plenty enough.”

“In following the Way, the noble-minded treasure three things: a manner free of violence and arrogance, a countenance full of sincerity and trust, a voice free of vulgarity and impropriety.”

“When everyone hates a person, you should investigate thoroughly, and when everyone loves a person, you should also investigate thoroughly.”

“Lead the people with administrative injunctions and put them in their place with penal law, and they will avoid punishments but will be without a sense of shame. Lead them with excellence and put them in their place through roles and ritual practices, and in addition to developing a sense of shame, they will order themselves harmoniously”

“A gentleman is not a pot.”

“The noble-minded encourage what is beautiful in people and discourage what is ugly in them. Little people do just the opposite.”

“Ji Wenzi always thought thrice before acting. Hearing this the Master said, "Twice is enough.”

“Tsze-kung wished to dispense with the sacrifice of a sheep for the New Moon ceremony. The Master said, "You love the sheep; I love the ceremony.”