Discerning
The Governing Principles of Ancient China - Qunshu Zhiyao 360
Good or Evil
Confucius said: “A superior person may hold different opinions from others but he can live in harmony with others. A petty person may seem agreeable with others but he cannot live in harmony with others.”
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Confucius said: “A superior person perfects what is good in people. He does not perfect what is bad. A petty person does the opposite.”
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A superior person conceals the faults of others as a means to cultivate his own kindness. A petty person destroys the kind deeds of others as a means to show off his own greatness.
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Zigong asked Confucius: “Will superior persons despise anyone?” Confucius said: “Superior persons despise people who expose the faults of others. They despise subordinates who slander their superiors. They despise brave people who are discourteous, and they despise resolute people who are unreasonable.”*
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*We should avoid exposing the wrongdoings of others but propagate as many kind deeds as we can. When a subordinate sees faults in his superior he should propose some alternatives that can help his superior to change. If the superior insists on his own ways, the subordinate can choose to submit his resignation. But slandering one’s superior behind his back is not an honorable thing to do. Bravery that is not in accord with protocols will easily compel one to rebel against one’s superior; resoluteness that is not in accord with reasons will not only ruin a course but also hurt other people.
Superior persons possess solid principles and goals, and every plan that they make is firmly grounded in these principles. They do not need to know too many principles, but whatever they know is applied in their daily life. They do not need to do too many things, but whatever they do is done with good reasons. Their minds are calm and rest in good faith as if it is second nature to them. When they do good deeds, they are always apprehensive about not being able to put in their best efforts. Petty persons do the opposite. They do not care about moral principles, they cannot speak of remonstrations that are meaningful, they refuse to take lessons from the virtuous to improve themselves, and they cannot ground themselves in good deeds. They simply go with the flow, oblivious to their deeds.
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