Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.
ConfuciusRead
Among us, in our part of the country, those who are upright are different from this. The father conceals the misconduct of the son, and the son conceals the misconduct of the father. Uprightness is to be found in this.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Uprightness involves mutual protection and understanding within familial relationships, highlighting a complex morality.
In this quote, Confucius presents a nuanced view of uprightness, suggesting that true morality may involve concealing faults within family dynamics. This perspective challenges the conventional notion of uprightness, as it illustrates how familial loyalty can sometimes take precedence over absolute honesty, thus revealing the intricate balance between ethical behavior and personal relationships.
Themes
UprightnessFamilyMoralityLoyaltyConcealment
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about family ethics, one might quote this to illustrate the complexity of familial loyalty.
More from Confucius
All quotes →Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.
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When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
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Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
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The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
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Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
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