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
When you see a good man, try to emulate his example, and when you see a bad man, search yourself for his faults.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote encourages us to learn from both good and bad examples in our lives.
Confucius emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and learning from the behavior of others. When we encounter someone who embodies good qualities, we should strive to mirror those positive traits in ourselves. Conversely, when faced with someone who displays undesirable characteristics, we should critically examine our own actions and flaws, ensuring we do not replicate such behavior in our own lives. This approach fosters personal growth and ethical development.
Themes
WisdomSelf-ReflectionLearningCharacterGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal development, one might quote this to inspire self-improvement.
More from Confucius
All quotes βEarnest 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.
ConfuciusRead
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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