Thursday Throwback: The Wisdom of Confucius

Certain books and authors put me in a particularly serene state of mind when I ride their thoughts:  The Bible, certainly, and Shakespeare come to mind.  Ancient Chinese writings have the same effect – whether it’s Confucius, Lao Tzu, Mencius, or other wise men from a distant time and place.  For today’s Thursday Throwback, I thought we’d spend a little time with the most famous of these teachers, Confucius.

What follows are a few of my favorite Confucius teachings – see if you don’t find yourself in a state of uber calm as you sit at the feet of this great teacher.

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If the pursuit of riches were a commendable pursuit, I would join in it, even if I had to become a chariot-driver for the purpose.  But seeing that it is not a commendable pursuit, I engage in those which are more to my taste.

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There are men, I dare say, who act rightly without knowing the reason why, but I am not one of them.  Having heard much, I sift out the good and practice it; having seen much, I retain it in my memory.  This is the second order of wisdom.

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Men’s faults are characteristic.  It is by observing a man’s faults that one may come to know his virtues.

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Observe a man’s actions; scrutinize his motives; take note of the things that give him pleasure.  How then can he hide from you what he really is?

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Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office.  Instead of being concerned that you are not known, seek to be worthy of being known.

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I do not expound my teachings to any who are not eager to learn; I do not help out anyone who is not anxious to explain himself; if, after being shown one corner of a subject, a man cannot go on to discover the other three, I do not repeat the lesson.

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If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher.  I will pick out the good points of one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.

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Refusal to instruct one who is competent to learn entails the waste of a man.  Instruction of one who is incompetent to learn entails waste of words.  The wise man is he who wastes neither men nor words.

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The real fault is to have faults and not try to amend them.

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Only two classes of men never change:  The wisest of the wise and the dullest of the dull.

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He who requires much from himself and little from others will be secure from hatred.