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.
It is from your hands that Our Lord, in the person of the sick, seeks relief.
Not everybody believes in ghosts, but I do. Do you know what they are, Trisha? She had shaken her head slowly. Men and women who can't get over their past . . . That's what ghosts are.
If the hearts are pure, they will never have enough from reciting Allah's words (the Qur'an).
Yes, I am a Jew and when the ancestors of the right honorable gentleman were brutal savages in an unknown island, mine were priests in the temple of Solomon.
Slavery it is that makes slavery; freedom, freedom. The slavery of women happened when the men were slaves of kings.
The natural mind is ever prone to reason, when we ought to believe; to be at work, when we ought to be quiet; to go our own way, when we ought steadily to walk on in God's ways, however trying to nature.
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