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
Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?
Interpretation
Respect is what elevates humanity above mere animal existence.
In this quote, Confucius emphasizes the importance of respect in human interactions and society. He suggests that without the capacity to respect one another, there is little to differentiate humans from animals, who operate solely on instinct and survival. Respect is a fundamental aspect that underpins civilizational behavior and moral obligations among individuals, highlighting the essential nature of empathy and acknowledgment of others' dignity.
In practice
During a speech on the importance of kindness and ethics in leadership.
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.
The words of a dead man are modified in the guts of the living.
People may come to our communities because they want to serve the poor; they will only stay once they have discovered that they themselves are poor.
Bliss is a thing which is always there and is not something which comes and goes. That which comes and goes is a creation of the mind.
Every human has four endowments - self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change.
Perhaps the most striking assault on the foundations of traditional liberties is a little-known case brought to the Supreme Court by the Obama administration, Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project.
In short, all things that please the natural man in this world, are, to a true Christian, only so many crosses and temptations, allurements of sin and snares of death, that continually exercise his virtue.
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