Confucius says ... (Doctrine of the mean)

Excerpts taken from "The Doctrine of the Mean" by Confucius:

"Sincerity is the way of Heaven. The attainment of sincerity is
the way of men. He who possesses sincerity is he who, without an effort,
hits what is right, and apprehends, without the exercise of thought;-he
is the sage who naturally and easily embodies the right way. He who attains
to sincerity is he who chooses what is good, and firmly holds it
fast.


"To this attainment there are requisite the extensive study of
what is good, accurate inquiry about it, careful reflection on it, the
clear discrimination of it, and the earnest practice of
it.


"The superior man, while there is anything he has not studied,
or while in what he has studied there is anything he cannot understand,
Will not intermit his labor. While there is anything he has not inquired
about, or anything in what he has inquired about which he does not know,
he will not intermit his labor. While there is anything which he has not
reflected on, or anything in what he has reflected on which he does not
apprehend, he will not intermit his labor. While there is anything which
he has not discriminated or his discrimination is not clear, he will not
intermit his labor. If there be anything which he has not practiced, or
his practice fails in earnestness, he will not intermit his labor. If another
man succeed by one effort, he will use a hundred efforts. If another man
succeed by ten efforts, he will use a thousand.


"Let a man proceed in this way, and, though dull, he will surely
become intelligent; though weak, he will surely become
strong."


...


Sincerity is that whereby self-completion is effected, and its
way is that by which man must direct himself.


Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity
there would be nothing. On this account, the superior man regards the attainment
of sincerity as the most excellent thing.



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The Internet Classics Archive | The Doctrine of the Mean by Confucius