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
Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of adhering to proper conduct in thought, speech, and action.
Confucius advocates for a life of propriety, suggesting that we should align our thoughts, words, and actions with moral and ethical standards. This reflects the importance of integrity and responsibility in maintaining harmonious relationships and social order.
In practice
A teacher may use this quote to encourage students to maintain proper behavior.
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.
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.
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.
Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
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.
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
I know that, as night and shadows are good for flowers, and moonlight and dews are better than a continual sun, so is Christ's absence of special use, and that it hath some nourishing virtue in it, and giveth sap to humility, and putteth an edge on hunger, and funisheth a fairfield to faith to put forth itself, and to exercise its fingers in gripping it seeth not what.
It was the same way with silence. This was more than silence. A deaf person can feel vibrations. Here there was nothing to feel.
Do you, good people, believe that Adam and Eve were created in the Garden of Eden and that they were forbidden to eat from the tree of knowledge? I do. The church has always been afraid of that tree. It still is afraid of knowledge. Some of you say religion makes people happy. So does laughing gas. So does whiskey. I believe in the brain of man.
The efficacy of a prayer depends not on the words but on the sincerity of intention.
We have more and more ways to communicate, as Thoreau noted, but less and less to say.
Everywhere you look for comparisons of life under anarchy and life under government, life under government is less violent.
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